Upregulation of Semaphorin 3A and the associated biochemical and cellular events in a rat model of retinal detachment.

Background: Retinal detachment, as a result of injury or disease, is a severe disorder that may ultimately lead to complete blindness. Despite advanced surgical repair techniques, the visual acuity of patients is often limited. We investigated some of the biochemical and morphological alterations following experimental retinal detachment in laboratory animals.

RanBP2 modulates Cox11 and hexokinase I activities and haploinsufficiency of RanBP2 causes deficits in glucose metabolism.

The Ran-binding protein 2 (RanBP2) is a large multimodular and pleiotropic protein. Several molecular partners with distinct functions interacting specifically with selective modules of RanBP2 have been identified. Yet, the significance of these interactions with RanBP2 and the genetic and physiological role(s) of RanBP2 in a whole-animal model remain elusive.

Encapsulated cell-based intraocular delivery of ciliary neurotrophic factor in normal rabbit: dose-dependent effects on ERG and retinal histology.

Purpose: ERG and histologic changes were investigated in normal rabbits after intravitreal implantation of encapsulated cell technology (ECT) devices releasing ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF).

Methods: Fifteen adult New Zealand White albino rabbits had ECT devices secreting CNTF at 22, 5, or 0 ng/d implanted in the superior temporal quadrant of the left eye. The low dose has been shown to produce substantial rescue of photoreceptors in the rcd1 canine model of retinal degeneration.

Functional damage to inner and outer retinal cells in experimental glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate the cellular sources underlying the functional damage observed by multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) responses of glaucomatous eyes of monkeys.

Methods: First- and second-order (K1 and K2, respectively) mfERG responses of three normal and three experimentally induced glaucomatous eyes of cynomolgus monkeys were measured at two different levels of luminance. Retinal contributors to the responses were isolated by intravitreal injections of pharmacological agents that suppress specific retinal cells.

The effect of contrast and luminance on mfERG responses in a monkey model of glaucoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of contrast and luminance attenuation on the multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) responses of normal and glaucomatous eyes of cynomolgus monkeys.

Methods: Nine adult male cynomolgus monkeys with unilateral experimentally induced glaucoma were used. Hypertension-induced damage was confirmed by tomography of the optic disc.