Structural Correlation Between the Nerve Fiber Layer and Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss in Mice with Targeted Disruption of theBrn3bGene

Abstract

The strong correlation between the combined layer thickness and histologic cell counts validates manual OCT segmentation as a method of monitoring cell loss in the RGCL. A retinal thickness map assessed if combined NFL and IPL thickness loss in Brn3b(-/-) eyes was topographically specific. Generalized RGC and combined NFL and IPL loss was observed in the Brn3b(-/-) retinas, in contrast to topographically specific RGC loss observed in glaucomatous DBA2/J eyes.

Exposure to As, Cd and Pb-mixture impairs myelin and axon development in rat brain, optic nerve and retina

“…Five to 10-μM cryostat sections were made using cryomicrotome (Microm HM 520, Labcon, Germany), and mounted on (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane-coated slides. For the retinal sections, the eyes were harvested, fixed in 4% formaldehyde, processed and embedded in paraffin blocks (Camp et al, 2011). The sections were then deparaffinized and dehydrated with gradient xylene and alcohol, and antigen-retrieved in Na-citrate-buffer.…”

Nerve Fiber Layer Thinning Lags Retinal Ganglion Cell Density Following Crush Axonopathy

“…4A), and show clearly distinct retinal layers. Manual segmentation of over 100 B-scans at each time point allow for construction of three-dimensional NFL thickness maps 21 (Fig. 4B).…”

“…The average thickness of each manually segmented retina was calculated using a previously described segmentation algorithm modified for use with images obtained using the Bioptigen SD-OCT machine. 21,25 These average thickness values and SD are plotted longitudinally for individual retinas (Fig. 4C).…”

“…Concurrent to direct RGC visualization, we also track nerve fiber layer (NFL) structural thickness in vivo through segmentation of spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) retinal imaging, as has been described previously by our laboratory. 21 Therefore, we can correlate structural thinning of the ganglion cell layer to progressively decreasing RGC density in vivo.…”

“…21 Thickness maps resulting from segmentation of the RGC layer (RGCL) and inner plexiform layer (IPL) boundaries were calculated together with the average combined layer thickness and SD for each eye. The injury stage for each analyzed eye was masked for manual segmentation.…”