PubMed ID: 28662231
Author(s): Mowat FM, Gervais KJ, Occelli LM, Annear MJ, Querubin J, Bainbridge JW, Smith AJ, Ali RR, Petersen-Jones SM. Early-onset progressive degeneration of the area centralis in RPE65-deficient gogs. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2017 Jun 1;58(7):3268-3277. doi: 10.1167/iovs.17-21930. PMID 28662231
Journal: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Volume 58, Issue 7, Jun 2017
PURPOSE Retinal epithelium-specific protein 65 kDa (RPE65)-deficient dogs are a valuable large animal model species that have been used to refine gene augmentation therapy for Leber congenital amaurosis type-2 (LCA2). Previous studies have suggested that retinal degeneration in the dog model is slower than that observed in humans. However, the area centralis of the dog retina is a cone and rod photoreceptor rich region comparable to the human macula, and the effect of RPE65 deficiency specifically on this retinal region, important for high acuity vision, has not previously been reported.
METHODS Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, fundus photography, and immunohistochemistry of retinal wholemounts and sagittal frozen sections were used to define the time-course and cell-types affected in degeneration of the area centralis in affected dogs.
RESULTS Area centralis photoreceptor degeneration was evident from 6 weeks of age, and progressed to involve the inner retina. Immunohistochemistry showed that RPE65-deficient dogs developed early loss of S-cone outer segments, with slower loss of L/M-cone outer segments and rods.
CONCLUSIONS Early-onset severe photoreceptor degeneration in the area centralis of dogs with RPE65-deficiency offers a model of the early foveal/perifoveal degeneration in some patients with LCA2. This model could be used to refine interventions aiming to improve function and halt the progression of foveal/perifoveal photoreceptor degeneration.