Advantages of Non-Human Primate (NHP) Models of Retinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury is a pathological hallmark of diabetic retinopathy (DR), glaucoma, and vascular ischemic retinopathy, which leads to permanent loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and is a common cause of visual impairment and blindness in middle-aged and elderly people. At present, there is no effective therapy for retinal ischemia-reperfusion, and the underlying mechanism of retinal neuron injury caused by reperfusion is still not fully understood. The lack of adequate treatments may be due to the limited availability of viable models for translating such treatments into human disease. Despite the advantages of wide availability and ease of manipulation in rodent models of ischemia-reperfusion injury, ocular anatomical, physiological, and immunological features differ from those of the human eye, and results obtained from these models may not always reflect human pathogenesis. Non-human primates (NHPs) have ocular anatomy consistent with humans and are able to largely mimic symptoms in human patients, exhibiting human-like neurostructural and functional changes, retinal degeneration, and upregulation of retinal validated biomarkers.

Fig. 1. Methods of laser-induced chronic ocular hypertension (COHT) model. (Gong L, et al., 2023)

Service Overview

Ace Therapeutics is a full-service ocular disease model provider. Thanks to our in-depth understanding of non-human primates (NHPs), here we provide you with a non-human primate (NHP) retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury model established using an acute intraocular pressure elevation, and the observed pathophysiology is comparable to that of human disease.

In order to accurately mimic human retinal ischemia's sustained structural and functional changes. Ace Therapeutics' researchers identify a target intraocular pressure (IOP) of 100 mm Hg or higher for retinal ischemia in a pilot study.

Interesting to you, this model can help you explore the mechanisms of ischemia-reperfusion injury in humans and develop potential therapeutic strategies, particularly targeting neurodegenerative damage to the retinal neurovascular unit. Our customers have used this model extensively to study ischemia-induced ocular lesions such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

Explore Ace Therapeutics' Non-Human Primate (NHP) Models of Retinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Ace Therapeutics' NHP model of retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury is achieved by inducing acute intraocular pressure elevations by elevating the saline container height. Using this model, you can screen potential interventions and treatments for neuroprotection.

• Protocol to Induce a Non-Human Primate (NHP) Retinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Model

• Rhesus monkeys were anesthetized by intramuscular injection of anesthetic drugs.
• The anterior chamber was cannulated by inserting a 30-gauge needle into the peripheral cornea of the Rhesus monkey, and the needle was connected to a reservoir of sterile 0.9% saline solution.
• Acute IOP elevation was induced by raising the sterile saline solution reservoir for 90 min, and IOP was monitored until the target value was reached.
• The saline reservoir is lowered and the needle is released from the eye, intraocular pressure is restored, and the retinal ischemia-reperfusion model is induced.

Our Capabilities

Benefiting from our unparalleled experience in ophthalmic pharmacology, our highly qualified scientists also develop standard procedural protocols to test potential therapeutic strategies and evaluate these strategies, including but not limited to:

• Fundus photography.
• Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) analysis.

Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL).

Kernel layer (INL).

The outer nuclear layer (ONL).

Total retinal thickness.

• Full-field electroretinography (ERG).
• Visually-evoked potential (VEP).
• Quantitative analysis of retinal ganglion cells.
• Histopathological analysis.
• ELISA, Western blot, qPCR.
• Bioinformatics.

Ace Therapeutics aims to provide a valuable tool to help our global customers explore more possibilities for retinal ischemia-reperfusion therapies. 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. Gong L, Pasquale LR, Wiggs JL, et al. Description of a Nonhuman Primate Model of Retinal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2023, 12(6):14.
2. Gao Y, Wu D, Liu D, et al. Novel Acute Retinal Artery Ischemia and Reperfusion Model in Nonhuman Primates. Stroke. 2020, 51(8):2568-2572.

• Customized NHP Models of Laser-Induced Chronic Ocular Hypertension
• Customized NHP Models of Dry Eye Disease
• Customized NHP Models of Blue Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration
• Customized NHP Models of Laser-Induced Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV )
• Customized NHP Models of Uveitis
• Customized NHP Models of Inherited Retinal Diseases

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