Abstract
Purpose. This study tests the hypothesis that reduced retinal and choroidal blood flow (BF) occur in the DBA/2J mouse model of glaucoma. Methods. Quantitative BF magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a resolution of 42 × 42 × 400 μm was performed on DBA/2J mice at 4, 6, and 9 months of age and C57BL/6 age-matched controls under isoflurane anesthesia. BF MRI images were acquired with echo-planar imaging using an arterial spin labeling technique and a custom-made eye coil at 7 Tesla. Automated profile analysis was performed to average layer-specific BF along the length of the retina and choroid. In separate experiments, servo-null micropressure measurements of iliac arterial pressure were performed in old mice of both strains. Results. Choroidal BF was lower in DBA/2J mice than in age-matched C57BL/6 control mice at 4, 6, and 9 months of age (P < 0.01 for all age-matched groups). Retinal BF was lower in DBA/2J mice than in C57BL/6 mice at the 9-month time point (P < 0.01). Mean arterial pressure was not significantly different in aged C57BL/6 mice compared with aged DBA/2J mice. Conclusions. The reduced ocular blood flow in DBA/2J mice compared with C57BL/6 control mice suggests that ischemia or hypoxia should be considered as a possible contributing factor in the optic neuropathy in the DBA/2J mouse model of glaucoma.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 560-564 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science |
| Volume | 53 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2012 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Sensory Systems
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology