Summary: NaIO3-induced retinal degeneration is widely used to study cell death in AMD. This results in death of retinal pigmented epithelium followed by a secondary death of photoreceptors, similar to what is observed in Geographic Atrophy.
Model Description
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of central vision loss for people age 50 and older. This vision loss makes it harder to do most of the day-to-day activities, like driving, cooking and reading.
Sodium iodate (NaIO3)-induced retinal degeneration models have been widely used to study the cell death in AMD. Sodium iodate results in death of retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) followed by a secondary death of photoreceptors, similar to what is observed in atrophic AMD (or geographic atrophy, GA).
Animal species | Rats, Rabbits |
Method of induction | Injection of sodium iodate |
Follow-up period | Typically up to 35 days |
Route of compound administration | Intravitreal, topical, systemic |
Read-outs | 1. In vivo imaging – Fluorescein angiography for damaged area quantification; – Optical coherence tomography for retinal thickness; 2. Functional assessment: – Rod bipolar cell function protection. |
Outcomes and Capabilities
In vivo imaging
Fluorescein angiography (rabbit; Heideleberg Spectralis). Retinal damage and protection after NaIO3 induction; Graph of area and percentage of damage in the retina.
Retinal thickness measurements (OCT) of rabbits induced with NaIO3.
Functional assessment
Rod bipolar cell function protection in NaIO3-induced retinal damage model treated with a high dose FAS inhibitor.
References
- Kocab AJ, Bacellar-Galdino M, Zacks DN, Jamison JA, Van De Goor J. Inhibition of Fas with ONL 1204 provides protection in a novel rabbit model of dry AMD. 2020. ARVO annual meeting. Poster presentation.