Why Choose Non-Human Primate (NHP) Models of Blue Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration?

Geographic atrophy (GA) is an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) characterized by atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), loss of photoreceptors, and destruction of choriocapillaris vessels. Currently, the pathogenesis of GA is unclear and there is no effective treatment. Although rodent models have been developed to mimic the pathophysiology of geographic atrophy, the anatomical, physiological, and immunological features of their ocular surface differ from those of humans, which somewhat limits translational drug research. The blue-light-induced nonhuman primate model more accurately reflects the progressive nature of human GA than other models of rapid retinal degeneration, and it can be used to study preventive and interventional treatments at doses similar to those used in humans.

Fig. 1. Representative cross-sections of NHP retinas stained with H&E (A, C) or processed for IHC using anti-RPE65 antibody (B, D). (Rajagopalan L, et al., 2021)

Service Overview

Thanks to our comprehensive NHP platform and experienced ocular disease model development department, Ace Therapeutics scientists have successfully developed and validated a blue light-induced retinal degeneration model in NHP. This model resembles the advanced stages of human age-related macular degeneration and is a blue light-induced phototoxic geographic atrophy NHP model.

What makes sense to you is that you can choose this model to test the neuroprotective effect of your product in indications related to retinal degeneration, specifically photoreceptor degeneration observed in retinopathy and retinopathy. Our ophthalmic pharmacologists provide a programmed protocol to test the efficacy and safety of your neuroprotective compound candidates.

Explore Ace Therapeutics' Non-Human Primate (NHP) Models of Blue Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration

Ace Therapeutics' NHP GA model is based on blue light-induced cellular stress and belongs to the GA phototoxicity NHP model.

• Protocol to Induce a Non-Human Primate (NHP) Models of Blue Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration

At Ace Therapeutics laboratories, our experimenters create an NHP GA model of progressive outer retinal degeneration by exposing one eye of cynomolgus monkeys to blue light (a xenon light source (300 W) with a 1.0 neutral density filter and a 470 nm blue light filter.), while the other eye served as a control. Radiant exposures at the para macular regions ranged from 12 J/cm2 to 75 J/cm2 for exposure times from 5 min to 30 min. The follow-up period was 12 weeks.

• Protocol for Testing the Neuroprotective effects of Candidate Compounds

Considering our unparalleled experience in ophthalmic pharmacology, our ophthalmic pharmacologists develop a standardized protocol of standardized procedures to test the cellular and neuroprotective effects of candidate compounds after retinal injury.

• Adaptive feeding.
• Retinal damage caused by constant light.
• Intravitreal injection of candidate compounds.

Available Support Services

In order to accurately characterize the RPE damage in the non-human primate model of progressive outer retinal degeneration, our researchers use the following analytical tools for endpoint assessment, including but not limited to:

• Fundus autofluorescence imaging (RPE damage).
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) (The thickness of outer nuclear layer (ONL) ).
• Multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) (Photoreceptor function).
• Histological analysis.
• Immunohistochemical analysis.

Ace Therapeutics aims to provide a valuable tool to help our global customers study structural and functional changes in macular degeneration and develop potential treatments for GA. If you are interested in our services or need more detailed information, please feel free to contact us. Our experienced scientists are ready to help you!

References

1. Rajagopalan L, Ghosn C, Tamhane M, et al. A nonhuman primate model of blue light-induced progressive outer retina degeneration showing brimonidine drug delivery system-mediated cyto- and neuroprotection. Exp Eye Res. 2021, 209:108678.
2. Liu YV, Konar G, Aziz K, et al. Localized Structural and Functional Deficits in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Outer Retinal Atrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2021, 62(13):8.

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