Enhancing mouse fundus imaging with OCT embedding medium: Prolonging imaging duration and improving image quality.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology and Vision Science
• Biomedical Imaging
• Animal Models in Research

Background:

• Fundus diseases are a major cause of vision loss, necessitating advanced research models.
• Existing mouse fundus imaging methods face challenges like corneal whitening and motion artifacts, limiting research precision.
• Mice are vital animal models for studying ophthalmic conditions and developing treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an innovative method for enhancing the quality and duration of mouse fundus imaging.
• To overcome limitations of current techniques, particularly for prolonged, high-precision imaging in research settings.
• To improve visualization of retinal structures, especially in disease models like age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Main Methods:

• Development and application of a novel Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) embedding medium on the mouse cornea.
• Utilizing the medium to improve eye-OCT lens alignment and reduce optical aberrations.
• Evaluating the impact on imaging quality, corneal hydration, and artifact reduction during prolonged imaging sessions.

Main Results:

• The OCT embedding medium significantly reduced stray light (flare) and motion artifacts during mouse fundus imaging.
• Corneal dehydration was slowed, allowing for extended imaging periods.
• Retinal blood vessel visualization was markedly improved, particularly in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) mouse models.

Conclusions:

• The proposed OCT embedding medium offers a significant technical advancement for high-quality mouse fundus imaging.
• This method enhances imaging precision and duration, crucial for studying ophthalmic diseases in animal models.
• The technique shows promise for improving research outcomes and potential future clinical applications in ophthalmology.