White Light Damage Retinal Degeneration Model

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most common causes of severe vision loss in older adults and is often divided into two main phenotypes, "wet" AMD and "dry" AMD. Unfortunately, there are currently no clinically effective treatments for dry AMD. Therefore, a robust model is urgently needed to elucidate dry AMD pathology and develop effective therapies. Studies have shown that light exposure can cause photoreceptor degeneration in animals that exhibit pathological features similar to dry AMD, including thinning of the outer retinal nuclear layer (ONL) and loss of photoreceptor cells. Among these animal models, the zebrafish is widely used due to its high fecundity and morphological and physiological similarities to mammals. Unlike mammals, which cannot regenerate the retina after injury or degeneration, the zebrafish retina exhibits a strong regenerative response after injury. This makes white light-damaged zebrafish an attractive model system for studying dry AMD.

Fig. 1. Light-induced retinal degeneration zebrafish model. (Cocchiaro P, et al., 2022)

Service Overview

Continuous light exposure leads to the loss of rod and cone photoreceptors and the thinning of the retinal outer nuclear layer (ONL). To reflect retinal degeneration symptoms, Ace Therapeutics develops a zebrafish white light injury model. This animal model that mimics dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in humans and can be used to elucidate dry AMD pathology, develop anti-dry AMD drugs, and test the effects of therapeutic or neuroprotective compounds.

Explore Ace Therapeutics' Zebrafish Models of White Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration

Our researchers acclimatize adult pigmented wild-type zebrafish for 14 days in total darkness, followed by 60 hours of continuous exposure to constant intense light to induce retinal damage.

Model characteristics: Severe retinal tissue damage, manifested as photoreceptor apoptosis, retinal outer nuclear layer thickness, and cell number decrease.

Importantly, to test the ability of candidate compounds to prevent retinal degeneration and promote retinal regeneration, our researchers also develop the following two different procedural protocols:

• Test the compound's ability to prevent retinal degeneration
• Adaptive feeding in a dark environment.
• Intravitreal injection of the candidate compound.
• Continuous light-induced retinal damage.
• Test the compound's ability to promote retinal regeneration
• Adaptive feeding in a dark environment.
• Continuous light-induced retinal damage.
• Intravitreal injection of the candidate compound.

Available Support Services

In order to fully support our customers' ocular pharmacology research, Ace Therapeutics conducts model validation and efficacy evaluation through the following indicators and tools, including but not limited to:

• Immunohistochemical analysis.
• Confocal microscopy analysis.
• Retinal outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness analysis.
• Quantification of retinal outer nuclear layer (ONL) cells.
• Molecular biology analysis (To elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of candidate compounds).

Ace Therapeutics aims to provide a powerful analytical tool to help our global clients study the retinal degeneration and regeneration processes, as well as molecular and physiological mechanisms of potential therapeutic strategies. 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. Saito Y, Tsuruma K, Shimazawa M, et al. Establishment of a drug evaluation model against light-induced retinal degeneration using adult pigmented zebrafish. J Pharmacol Sci. 2016, 131(3):215-8.
2. Cocchiaro P, Di Donato V, Rubbini D, et al. Intravitreal Administration of rhNGF Enhances Regenerative Processes in a Zebrafish Model of Retinal Degeneration. Front Pharmacol. 2022, 13:822359.

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