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Analysis of RPE morphometry in human eyes
Shagun K Bhatia1, Alia Rashid1, Micah A Chrenek1
1Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Molecular Vision
|August 25, 2016
Summary
Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in human eyes change shape and size with age, especially in the outer retina. Older RPE cells are less dense, larger, and more oval than younger ones.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cell Biology
- Computational Imaging
Background:
- The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is crucial for retinal health and function.
- Understanding RPE morphometry is key to diagnosing and treating age-related retinal diseases.
- Previous studies have shown age-related changes in the retina, but detailed RPE cell morphometry is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively describe the morphometry of healthy human RPE cells.
- To investigate age-related and topographic differences in RPE cell area and shape.
- To utilize advanced computational methods for objective RPE analysis.
Main Methods:
- Human cadaver eyes (n=19) from donors aged 29-80 years were used.
- RPE flatmounts were immunostained and imaged using confocal microscopy.
- Image analysis software (ImageJ, CellProfiler) quantified RPE cell density, area, shape (polygonality, form factor), and neighboring cells across retinal regions.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in RPE cell area and shape were observed between the outer third and inner two-thirds of the temporal retina.
- Increasing age correlated with decreased RPE cell density, reduced hexagonal shape, and increased cell area and eccentricity, particularly in the macula and far periphery.
- Younger individuals (<60 years) exhibited higher RPE cell density and more hexagonal cells compared to older individuals (≥60 years) in the macula and far periphery.
Conclusions:
- Human RPE cell morphometry varies significantly with topographic location, especially between the outer and inner retina.
- Aging leads to less dense, larger, and more irregularly shaped RPE cells, losing their characteristic hexagonal form.
- These age-related RPE changes are most pronounced in the macula and far periphery, with minimal differences in the mid-periphery.
