Faculty Research 1990 - 1999

Essential iris atrophy, pigment dispersion, and glaucoma in DBA/2J mice.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1998

Keywords

Animal, Anterior-Eye-Segment: pa, Atrophy, Cell-Death, Disease-Models-Animal, Disease-Progression, Exfoliation-Syndrome: et, ge, pa, Eye-Diseases-Hereditary: et, ge, pa, Female, Glaucoma-Angle-Closure: et, ge, pa, Intraocular-Pressure, Iris: pa, Male, Mice, Mice-Inbred-DBA, Ocular-Hypertension: et, ge, pa, Optic-Atrophy: et, pa, Retinal-Ganglion-Cells: pa, SUPPORT-NON-U-S-GOVT, SUPPORT-U-S-GOVT-NON-P-H-S, SUPPORT-U-S-GOVT-P-H-S

First Page

951

Last Page

962

JAX Source

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1998 May;39(6):951-62

Grant

EY07758/EY/NEI, CA34196/CA/NCI

Abstract

PURPOSE: To characterize ocular abnormalities associated with iris atrophy in DBA/2J mice and to determine whether mice of this strain develop elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma. METHODS: Different approaches, including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopic examination, ultrasound backscatter microscopy, and histology were used to examine the eyes of DBA/2J mice ranging from 2 to 30 months old. IOP was measured in DBA/2J mice of different ages. RESULTS: DBA/2J mice were found to develop pigment dispersion, iris transillumination, iris atrophy, anterior synechias, and elevated IOP. IOP was elevated in most mice by the age of 9 months. These changes were followed by the death of retinal ganglion cells, optic nerve atrophy, and optic nerve cupping. The prevalence and severity of these lesions increased with age. Optic nerve atrophy and optic nerve cupping was present in the majority of mice by the age of 22 months. CONCLUSIONS: DBA/2J mice develop a progressive form of secondary angle-closure glaucoma that appears to be initiated by iris atrophy and the associated formation of synechias. This mouse strain represents a useful model to evaluate mechanisms of pressure-related ganglion cell death and optic nerve atrophy, and to evaluate strategies for neuroprotection.

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