Related Experiment Videos
Lacquer crack lesions in experimental chick myopia
1Department of Ophthalmology, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Japan. ahirata@kaiju.medic.kumamoto-u.ac.jp
Summary
Lacquer crack lesions (LCL) in myopic chicks show Bruch's membrane and choriocapillary rupture. This experimental model may help understand human LCL development in pathologic myopia.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Comparative Pathology
- Animal Models
Background:
- Lacquer crack lesions (LCL) are a complication of human pathologic myopia, involving retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) loss and Bruch's membrane rupture.
- This study investigates comparable lesions in experimentally induced prolonged myopia in chicks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe and characterize lacquer crack-like lesions in a chick model of experimental myopia.
- To investigate the structural changes in Bruch's membrane and choroidal vasculature associated with these lesions.
Main Methods:
- Form-deprivation myopia was induced in chicks via unilateral eyelid suturing.
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine Bruch's membrane and choroidal vascular corrosion casts.
- Light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed for histological analysis of retinal and choroidal tissues.
Main Results:
- Pale, linear lesions were observed in myopic chick eyes by 8 weeks of age.
- Lesions exhibited complete rupture of Bruch's membrane and the choriocapillary network, with RPE cell disorganization.
- The retina showed depression, photoreceptor degeneration, and surrounding fibroblast proliferation.
Conclusions:
- The formation of these lesions is attributed to passive stretching of Bruch's membrane and capillaries due to excessive eye enlargement in myopia.
- This chick model provides insights into the mechanisms underlying human lacquer crack development.