Disease models

Optic Nerve Crush

The optic nerve crush (ONC) model was first introduced by Li and his colleagues in the late nineties (Li et al., 1999) and has since become a widely used approach for studying neural degeneration. This model involves mechanically crushing the optic nerve behind the eye globe, leading to axonal degeneration and subsequent retinal ganglion cell (RGC) apoptosis, mimicking glaucomatous neuropathy. As a result, RGC death impairs signal transmission to the visual cortex, ultimately causing functional deficits and vision loss.

At Experimentica, we have fully implemented and validated both mouse and rat ONC models (Kalesnykas et al., 2012; Leinonen et al., 2016; Maciulaitiene et al., 2017). Our capabilities include non-invasive in vivo imaging techniques such as spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to monitor structural changes in the retina. We also offer functional assessments, including pattern electroretinography (pERG), visual evoked potential (VEP), and optomotor reflex (OMR), to evaluate visual function. Additionally, we provide immunostaining and unbiased quantification of RGCs, as well as optic nerve damage evaluation.

Technical details

Animal species

Mouse and rat

Method of induction

Crushing the eye optic nerve with self-closing forceps for a standard duration of three (3) seconds (the duration can be adjusted depending on the desired severity of the injury)

Route of test article administration

Topical, intravitreal injection, intracameral injection, subretinal, systemic

Readouts

In vivo imaging:
– Doppler imaging to verify the blood circulation gets normal within the first 2-3 min. after the crush
– SD-OCT imaging to quantitatively assess individual retinal layer thickness
Visual function assessment:
– pERG to assess retinal ganglion cell function
– VEP recordings from primary visual cortex

Behavioral vision assessment:
– OMR testing, including visual acuity and contrast sensitivity

Histology and immunohistochemistry:
– Quantitative analysis of retinal ganglion cells loss
– Qualitative assessment of optic nerve damage

Molecular biology:
– ELISA
– Western blot
– qPCR

Scientific excellence in every model

Scientific relevance

The ONC model effectively mimics glaucomatous neuropathy, making it ideal for testing neuroprotective compounds

Cutting-edge technology

Our capabilities allow for non-invasive in vivo imaging and functional testing, reducing the need for invasive endpoints

Unbiased data

AI-driven analysis of retinal thickness measurements and retinal ganglion cell estimation using stereology ensures unbiased evaluations of neuroprotective treatments