Ace Therapeutics is a trusted preclinical contract research partner in glaucoma research. Our experts are committed to developing and validating custom optic nerve injury models, including optic nerve crush models and optic nerve transection models, to support researchers and pharmaceutical companies in accelerating their understanding of glaucoma pathophysiology and advancing the development of glaucoma drugs.
Optic Nerve Injury Models
While elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a key risk factor for glaucoma, glaucomatous optic nerve injury remains the primary characteristic of the disease. Optic nerve crush and transection models provide critical insights into direct axonal injury mechanisms, recapitulating traumatic or neurodegenerative aspects of the disease. These models are invaluable for evaluating neuroprotective therapies, axon regeneration strategies, and functional recovery in controlled experimental settings.
Fig. 1 Optic nerve crush in C57BL/6 mice. (Gong X, et al., 2020)
Explore Our Optic Nerve Crush and Transection-Induced Glaucoma Models
Ace Therapeutics' optic nerve crush/transection models are designed to simulate the optic nerve damage seen in glaucoma for use in preclinical research. Our models enable researchers to understand the mechanisms of neuronal death, and explore therapeutic strategies for optic neuropathy.
Available Optic Nerve Crush and Transection-Induced Glaucoma Models
Our optic nerve injury models can be customized to reflect different stages of glaucoma progression, allowing researchers to investigate early or late pathological changes.
- Optic nerve crush models
Our experts use self-closing forceps to crush the optic nerve. These models mimic mechanical injury to the optic nerve, leading to progressive RGC loss and optic nerve degeneration. - Optic nerve transection models
We perform optic nerve transection using a precise laser microdissection platform. These models simulate acute optic nerve injury, leading to rapid axonal degeneration followed by regeneration, providing a valuable tool for studying the dynamics of optic nerve pathology and regeneration.
Optic Nerve Crush and Transection-Induced Glaucoma Model Evaluation Services
Multiple endpoints are available to assess the level of neuroprotection following administration of your test agents.
- Quantification of RGC viability using retinal flat mounts
- Retinal thickness assessment by optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging
- Analysis of RGC function by pattern electroretinography (pERG)
- Visual evoked potential (VEP) recordings from the primary visual cortex
- Histological analysis of the optic nerve
Advantages of Our Optic Nerve Crush and Transection-Induced Glaucoma Models
- Controlled axonal injury
Achieve consistent RGC degeneration and optic nerve damage with spatiotemporal precision. - Relevance to human disease
Our models closely mimic the optic nerve pathology observed in human glaucoma, making them highly relevant for translational research. - Model Versatility in Drug Development
Our models are tailored to meet a diverse array of applications, including drug screening, mechanism of action studies, and biomarker identification.
Ace Therapeutics' optic nerve injury models provide a controlled environment to study the mechanisms underlying RGC death, axonal degeneration, and optic nerve head pathology, which are key features of glaucoma. These models bridge the gap between discovery and clinical translation. Contact us, and our experts will be happy to test your compounds in our models!
Reference
- Gong X, et al. Optic Nerve Crush Modulates Refractive Development of the C57BL/6 Mouse by Changing Multiple Ocular Dimensions. Brain Res, 2020, 1726:146537.