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Age-related changes in the rhesus macaque eye
Kira H Lin1, Tu Tran2, Soohyun Kim3
1William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, 1 Garrod Drive, Davis, CA, 95695, USA.
Experimental Eye Research
|September 10, 2021
Summary
Rhesus macaques exhibit age-related eye changes mirroring human conditions, including increased intraocular pressure and retinal layer thinning. These findings support their use in studying age-related eye diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Primate Research
- Aging Studies
Background:
- Age-related eye diseases are a significant cause of vision loss in humans.
- Rhesus macaques are widely used as preclinical models due to their physiological similarities to humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in the rhesus macaque eye.
- To compare these changes with human age-related eye diseases.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated eye exams and imaging (IOP, lens thickness, axial length, OCT, qAF) from 142 rhesus macaques.
- Statistically analyzed age-related variations in ocular parameters and macular lesions.
Main Results:
- Increased intraocular pressure, lens thickness, and axial length with age.
- Decreased retinal ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer thickness; increased photoreceptor outer segment and choroidal layers.
- Increased quantitative autofluorescence (qAF) and presence of macular lesions in aged macaques.
Conclusions:
- Rhesus macaques display ocular aging patterns similar to humans.
- These findings support the utility of rhesus macaques for studying glaucoma, macular diseases, and cone disorders.
- The model is valuable for developing therapies for age-related vision impairments.
