Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
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Retinal Detachment Model in Rodents by Subretinal Injection of Sodium Hyaluronate
Published on: September 11, 2013
Neuroprotective Agents for Photoreceptor Rescue Following Experimental Retinal Detachment in Rodents: A Systematic
Konstantinos G Baroutis1, Dimitris Baroutis2, Ioanna Ploumi1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Retina Service, Ines and Fredrick Yeatts Retina Research Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|June 16, 2026
Summary
Neuroprotective interventions for retinal detachment (RD) in rodents show promise, with anti-inflammatory therapies offering the most photoreceptor rescue. Further research should focus on clinically relevant preclinical trials for better translation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Retinal detachment (RD) leads to photoreceptor cell death, necessitating effective neuroprotective strategies.
- Rodent models are crucial for evaluating potential treatments before clinical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review neuroprotective interventions for photoreceptor preservation in rodent models of retinal detachment.
- To assess the efficacy of various agents and identify promising therapeutic avenues.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted across major scientific databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar).
- Studies evaluated neuroprotective agents in rodent RD models, with primary outcomes including TUNEL-positive cell reduction and secondary outcomes like ONL preservation and ERG.
- Risk of bias was assessed using the SYRCLE tool.
Main Results:
- Thirty-six studies (2007-2025) were included, utilizing rat and mouse models.
- Anti-inflammatory interventions demonstrated the highest median reduction in TUNEL-positive cells (84.5%).
- Eight studies (22.2%) investigated FDA-approved agents for repurposing, but risk of bias was largely unclear in key domains.
Conclusions:
- Inflammation-targeted therapies show consistent photoreceptor rescue in rodent RD models.
- Significant opportunities exist for repurposing FDA-approved agents, but rigorous preclinical trial design is needed to bridge the translational gap.
