A primate model for age related macular drusen

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Primatology
• Gerontology

Background:

• A unique colony of rhesus monkeys at the Caribbean Primate Research Center (CPRC), isolated since 1938, is studied.
• Age-related macular drusen (AMD) is a significant cause of vision loss in aging populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the CPRC rhesus monkey colony as a model for human AMD.
• To investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and genetic associations of drusen in this colony.

Main Methods:

• Ophthalmic examination of colony animals to identify and quantify drusen.
• Analysis of drusen prevalence and severity in relation to age and matrilineal lineage.
• Electrophysiological assessments to estimate visual function loss.
• Comparison of drusen prevalence with human populations and non-CPRC monkeys.

Main Results:

• Drusen were present in 57.7% of monkeys and 47.3% of eyes examined.
• Drusen prevalence and severity showed a linear increase with age.
• Specific maternal lineages (matrilines) exhibited significantly higher drusen prevalence.
• Electrophysiological data suggested functional vision loss associated with drusen.
• CPRC females had nearly double the prevalence of drusen compared to males.
• Drusen prevalence in CPRC animals was several times higher than in US mainland facilities.
• End-stage lesion frequency appeared similar to human AMD populations.

Conclusions:

• The CPRC rhesus monkey colony serves as an excellent preclinical model for human age-related macular drusen.
• Age, genetics (matrilineal inheritance), and sex influence drusen development in this model.
• The model facilitates research into AMD pathogenesis and potential therapeutic interventions.