Structural and functional maturation of the retina of the albino Hartley guinea pig

Racine, Julie; Behn, Darren; Lachapelle, Pierre

doi:10.1007/s10633-007-9098-1

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Altricials like rats and mice are born with closed eyes and their retinas almost mature when eye opening occurs. Precocials (guinea pigs and humans) on the other hand open their eyes at birth thus their immature retinas are the subject to a longer experience dependent postnatal maturation period (Racine et al, 2008). Therefore, besides the similar lifestyle, the postnatal development of the retinal tissue may also be an important factor in forming the Cx36 pattern in the mammalian OPL.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Connexin36 Expression in the Mammalian Retina: A Multiple-Species Comparison

Kovács-Öller

Debertin

Balogh

et al. 2017

Front. Cell. Neurosci.

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Much knowledge about interconnection of human retinal neurons is inferred from results on animal models. Likewise, there is a lack of information on human retinal electrical synapses/gap junctions (GJ). Connexin36 (Cx36) forms GJs in both the inner and outer plexiform layers (IPL and OPL) in most species including humans. However, a comparison of Cx36 GJ distribution in retinas of humans and popular animal models has not been presented. To this end a multiple-species comparison was performed in retinas of 12 mammals including humans to survey the Cx36 distribution. Areas of retinal specializations were avoided (e.g., fovea, visual streak, area centralis), thus observed Cx36 distribution differences were not attributed to these species-specific architecture of central retinal areas. Cx36 was expressed in both synaptic layers in all examined retinas. Cx36 plaques displayed an inhomogenous IPL distribution favoring the ON sublamina, however, this feature was more pronounced in the human, swine and guinea pig while it was less obvious in the rabbit, squirrel monkey, and ferret retinas. In contrast to the relative conservative Cx36 distribution in the IPL, the labels in the OPL varied considerably among mammals. In general, OPL plaques were rare and rather small in rod dominant carnivores and rodents, whereas the human and the cone rich guinea pig retinas displayed robust Cx36 labels. This survey presented that the human retina displayed two characteristic features, a pronounced ON dominance of Cx36 plaques in the IPL and prevalent Cx36 plaque conglomerates in the OPL. While many species showed either of these features, only the guinea pig retina shared both. The observed similarities and subtle differences in Cx36 plaque distribution across mammals do not correspond to evolutionary distances but may reflect accomodation to lifestyles of examined species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Connexin36 Expression in the Mammalian Retina: A Multiple-Species Comparison

Kovács-Öller

Debertin

Balogh

et al. 2017

Front. Cell. Neurosci.

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“…ERG recordings were performed on 6-and 13-week-old C57Bl/6 Mthfr +/+ and Mthfr −/− male mice and were recorded in scotopic (rod-and rod/cone-mediated) and photopic (conemediated) conditions, as previously described (Cayouette et al 1998;Dorfman et al 2009;Racine et al 2008). For ERG waveform analysis, the amplitude of the a-wave was measured from the prestimulus baseline to the first negative trough and the amplitude of the b-wave measured from the most negative trough (a-wave) to the peak of the b-wave (most positive peak of the response).…”

Section: Electroretinograms (Ergs)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Complete deficiency of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase in mice is associated with impaired retinal function and variable mortality, hematological profiles, and reproductive outcomes

Lawrance

Racine

Deng

et al. 2010

J of Inher Metab Disea

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Severe deficiency of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) with homocystinuria can result in early demise or later-onset neurological impairment, including developmental delay, motor dysfunction, and seizures. We previously characterized BALB/c Mthfr (-/-)mice as a model for this disorder and have recently backcrossed the disrupted allele onto the C57Bl/6 background to examine the variable phenotypes in MTHFR deficiency. Compared with BALB/c Mthfr (-/-)mice, C57Bl/6 Mthfr (-/-)mice have enhanced survival rates (81% vs 26.5%). Four-day-old BALB/c mutant pups had lower body, brain, and spleen weights relative to their wild-type counterparts compared with C57Bl/6 mutants. Pregnant BALB/c Mthfr (+/-)mice had increased resorptions and embryonic delays compared with wild-type littermates, whereas these outcomes in C57Bl/6 c Mthfr (+/-)mice were similar to those of wild-type C57Bl/6 mice. BALB/c-mutant pups had altered hematological profiles (higher hematocrit, hemoglobin, and white blood cell counts, with lower platelet counts) compared with C57Bl/6 mutants. Mutants of both strains had similar degrees of hepatic steatosis, hepatic activity of betaine:homocysteine methyltransferase, and altered cerebellar histology. Electroretinograms (ERG) in C57Bl/6 Mthfr (-/-)mice revealed decreased amplitude of scotopic and photopic waves in 6-week-old mice, with normalized ERGs at 13 weeks. Plasma homocysteine was modestly higher in C57Bl/6 compared with BALB/c mice. Our results emphasize the variable presentation of MTHFR deficiency in different genetic backgrounds and suggest that plasma homocysteine is not a predictor of severity. In addition, our novel findings of decreased spleen weights, thrombocytopenia, and impaired retinal function warrant investigation in patients with severe MTHFR deficiency or other forms of homocystinuria.

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“…Guinea pigs are becoming an increasingly popular model of myopia, 10–12 and may also represent a promising model of glaucoma. Guinea pig retinal physiology, both in vitro single cell recordings 13, 14 and in vivo electrophysiology, 15, 16 have previously been characterized. Additionally, in vitro retinal and optic nerve head (ONH) structures in the guinea pig have been examined; 17, 18 however, in vivo methods to assess the retina, choroid and ONH have not yet been established.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Vivo Imaging of the Retina, Choroid, and Optic Nerve Head in Guinea Pigs

Jnawali

Beach

Ostrin

2018

Current Eye Research

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Purpose Guinea pigs are increasingly being used as a model of myopia, and may also represent a novel model of glaucoma. Here, optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging was performed in guinea pigs. In vivo measurements of retinal, choroidal and optic nerve head parameters were compared with histology, and repeatability and interocular variations were assessed. Methods OCT imaging and histology were performed on adult guinea pigs (n = 9). Using a custom program in Matlab, total retina, ganglion cell/nerve fiber layer (GC/NFL), outer retina and choroid thicknesses were determined. Additionally, Bruch’s membrane opening (BMO) area and diameter, and minimum rim width were calculated. Intraobserver, interocular and intersession coefficients of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were assessed. Results Retina, GC/NFL, outer retina and choroid thicknesses from in vivo OCT imaging were 147.7 ± 5.8 μm, 59.2 ± 4.5 μm, 72.4 ± 2.4 μm, and 64.8 ± 11.6 μm, respectively. Interocular CV ranged from 1.8 to 11% (paired t-test, p = 0.16 to 0.81), and intersession CV ranged from 1.1 to 5.6% (p = 0.12 to 0.82), with the choroid showing the greatest variability. BMO area was 0.192 ± 0.023 mm2, and diameter was 493.79 ± 31.89, with intersession CV of 3.3% and 1.7%, respectively. Hyper reflective retinal layers in OCT correlated with plexiform and RPE layers in histology. Conclusion In vivo OCT imaging and quantification of guinea pig retina and optic nerve head parameters were repeatable and similar between eyes of the same animal. In vivo visibility of retinal cell layers correlated well with histological images.

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Structural and functional maturation of the retina of the albino Hartley guinea pig

Cited by 11 publications

References 49 publications

Connexin36 Expression in the Mammalian Retina: A Multiple-Species Comparison

Connexin36 Expression in the Mammalian Retina: A Multiple-Species Comparison

Complete deficiency of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase in mice is associated with impaired retinal function and variable mortality, hematological profiles, and reproductive outcomes

In Vivo Imaging of the Retina, Choroid, and Optic Nerve Head in Guinea Pigs

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