In vitro: Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells exhibit a high susceptibility to reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to their elevated metabolic activity. The accumulation of ROS is a critical factor contributing to the pathogenesis of both dry and wet forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The thioredoxin (TRX) system represents one of the two primary thiol-dependent antioxidant defense mechanisms in mammalian cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the concentration-dependent activation and response of the TRX system to ROS induced by RPE specific exogenous oxidative agent, sodium iodate (NaIO3).

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To date, ocular injections and implants are the most effective methods for drug delivery to the back of the eye. However, invasive delivery methods also are costly and risky due to possible complications. In this paper, a novel proprietary polyacetylene polymer and two cell penetrating peptides are compared for topical drug delivery to treat retinal diseases.

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Examining the link between retinal function and structure in ocular hypertension is crucial for glaucoma research. The rat magnetic microbead model, mimicking glaucoma aspects, provides insights into this relationship. The study aims to examine if behavioral, functional, and morphological parameters have correlation in the rat magnetic microbead glaucoma model.​

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Streptozotocin (STZ) induced hyperglycemic rats, commonly used in preclinical diabetic retinopathy (DR) research, have poor response to the most used laboratory rodent anesthesia such as medetomidine/ketamine mixture (MK), and are prone to develop various welfare issues. The purpose of this study was to compare medetomidine/midazolam/butorphanol anesthesia (MMB) to MK in the STZ induced DR rat model to validate injectable anesthesia with less side effects and faster recovery time without compromising the DR development.

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The current study aimed to design and test a white light induction system using energy efficient LEDs capable of producing photoreceptor degeneration in a dose-dependent manner.

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Synthetic peptide hydrogels are promising scaffolds where cornea epithelium and other cell types can be grown into in vitro cultures. The aim of this study was to develop a corneal model employing a peptide hydrogel layer as a mimetic of corneal stroma. The model was used in the assessment of corneal cytotoxicity and penetration properties of prostaglandin analogs that are considered as first-line treatment for glaucoma.

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Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complex disease displaying diverse vascular-associated complications, including upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A165, enhanced vascular permeability, and retinal angiogenesis. Current animal models do not fully replicate the spectrum of DR pathologies. In this study, we aim to evaluate the efficacy of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated long-term expression of human VEGF to establish angiogenic DR-related phenotypes in Brown Norway rats, as well as validate a novel artificial intelligence (AI) framework for autonomous quantification of retinal angiogenesis in a newly established DR model.​

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This study defines ocular adenosine metabolism as a complex and spatially integrated network and further characterizes the critical role of CD73 in maintaining the functional activity of retinal cells.

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