Image-Guided Optical Coherence Tomography to Assess Structural Changes in Rodent Retinas

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Ocular diseases like AMD, glaucoma, RP, and uveitis cause retinal structural changes.
• These conditions affect specific retinal cells, including photoreceptors, ganglion cells, and vascular cells.
• Noninvasive, efficient imaging is crucial for clinical and research applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail data collection and analysis procedures for image-guided OCT.
• To demonstrate the application of image-guided OCT in rodent models of ocular diseases.
• To highlight the utility of this technique for convenient and reliable identification of retinal structural changes.

Main Methods:

• Image-guided optical coherence tomography (OCT) combining fundus photography and high-resolution OCT.
• Application in rodent models: choroidal neovascularization (CNV), optic nerve crush (ONC), light-induced retinal degeneration, and experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU).
• Detailed procedures for data collection and analysis specific to image-guided OCT.

Main Results:

• Image-guided OCT accurately diagnoses tiny lesions and significant retinal architectural changes.
• The technique proved effective in identifying structural abnormalities in all tested rodent models.
• Demonstrated convenience, reliability, and tractability for researchers studying rodent retinal changes.

Conclusions:

• Image-guided OCT is a valuable, noninvasive tool for studying ocular diseases.
• This technique facilitates reliable and convenient identification of retinal structural changes in research settings.
• It aids researchers in the eye field by providing detailed insights into disease-related retinal alterations.