In vivo retinal imaging in translational regenerative research

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Translational Medicine
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Longitudinal assessment is crucial for regenerative translational studies to track disease natural history and intervention effects.
• Traditional histological analysis for retinal structural changes requires animal sacrifice, limiting longitudinal studies.
• Noninvasive imaging offers a viable alternative for in vivo assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review key noninvasive imaging technologies for in vivo assessment of the posterior segment in translational retinal studies.
• To highlight the benefits of these technologies in reducing animal use and enabling longitudinal follow-up.
• To discuss the advantages, limitations, and future directions of these imaging modalities.

Main Methods:

• Review of established and emerging noninvasive imaging techniques.
• Description of fundus imaging, optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT-angiography, adaptive optics (AO), and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO).
• Focus on in vivo, non-contact, and fast imaging capabilities.

Main Results:

• These imaging technologies enable noninvasive, longitudinal evaluation of retinal structure and function.
• Reduced need for animal sacrifice and improved accuracy in assessing disease progression and intervention outcomes.
• Individual animal follow-up is facilitated, enhancing the analysis of disease natural history and treatment efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Noninvasive imaging modalities are essential tools for modern translational retinal research.
• These techniques improve the efficiency and ethical considerations of animal studies.
• Future directions involve further refinement and integration of these technologies for comprehensive retinal imaging.