Amyloid beta deposition related retinal pigment epithelium cell impairment and subretinal microglia activation in aged APPswePS1 transgenic mice.

Aim: To identify the pathological role of amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition in retinal degeneration, and explore Aβ deposition on the retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE) layer and the associated structural and functional changes in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice.

Methods: RPE changes in the eyes of APPswe/PS1 transgenic and none transgenic (NTG) mice over 20 months old were examined. Histological changes were investigated hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examination, whereas the expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP), Aβ, Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1 (IBA-1) were investigated using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence techniques.