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Anterior Segment Anatomy and Conventional Outflow Physiology of the Tree Shrew (Tupaia belangeri).

Publication ,  Journal Article
Jasien, JV; Read, AT; van Batenburg-Sherwood, J; Perkumas, KM; Ethier, CR; Stamer, WD; Samuels, BC
Published in: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci
January 3, 2022

PURPOSE: Rodent and primate models are commonly used in glaucoma research; however, both have their limitations. The tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) is an emerging animal model for glaucoma research owing in part to having a human-like optic nerve head anatomy, specifically a collagenous load-bearing lamina. However, the anterior segment anatomy and function have not been extensively studied in the tree shrew. Thus, the purpose of this study was to provide the first detailed examination of the anterior segment anatomy and aqueous outflow facility in the tree shrew. METHODS: Aqueous outflow dynamics were measured in five ostensibly normal eyes from three tree shrews using the iPerfusion system over a range of pressures. Gross histological assessment and immunohistochemistry were performed to characterize anterior segment anatomy and to localize several key molecules related to aqueous outflow. RESULTS: Anterior segment anatomy in tree shrews is similar to humans, demonstrating a scleral spur, a multilayered trabecular meshwork and a circular Schlemm's canal with a single lumen. Average outflow facility was 0.193 µL/min/mm Hg (95% confidence interval, 0.153-0.244), and was stable over time. Outflow facility was more similar between contralateral eyes (approximately 5% average difference) than between eyes of different animals. No significant dependence of outflow facility on time or pressure was detected (pressure-flow nonlinearity parameter of 0.01 (95% % confidence interval, -0.29 to 0.31 CI µL/min/mm Hg). CONCLUSIONS: These studies lend support to the usefulness of the tree shrew as a novel animal model in anterior segment glaucoma and pharmacology research. The tree shrew's cost, load-bearing collagenous lamina cribrosa, and lack of washout or anterior chamber deepening provides a distinct experimental and anatomic advantage over the current rodent and nonhuman primate models used for translational research.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci

DOI

EISSN

1552-5783

Publication Date

January 3, 2022

Volume

63

Issue

1

Start / End Page

21

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tupaia
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry
  • Male
  • Intraocular Pressure
  • Glaucoma
  • Female
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Aqueous Humor
  • Anterior Eye Segment
  • Animals
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Jasien, J. V., Read, A. T., van Batenburg-Sherwood, J., Perkumas, K. M., Ethier, C. R., Stamer, W. D., & Samuels, B. C. (2022). Anterior Segment Anatomy and Conventional Outflow Physiology of the Tree Shrew (Tupaia belangeri). Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 63(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.63.1.21
Jasien, Jessica V., A Thomas Read, Joseph van Batenburg-Sherwood, Kristin M. Perkumas, C Ross Ethier, W Daniel Stamer, and Brian C. Samuels. “Anterior Segment Anatomy and Conventional Outflow Physiology of the Tree Shrew (Tupaia belangeri).Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 63, no. 1 (January 3, 2022): 21. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.63.1.21.
Jasien JV, Read AT, van Batenburg-Sherwood J, Perkumas KM, Ethier CR, Stamer WD, et al. Anterior Segment Anatomy and Conventional Outflow Physiology of the Tree Shrew (Tupaia belangeri). Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2022 Jan 3;63(1):21.
Jasien, Jessica V., et al. “Anterior Segment Anatomy and Conventional Outflow Physiology of the Tree Shrew (Tupaia belangeri).Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, vol. 63, no. 1, Jan. 2022, p. 21. Pubmed, doi:10.1167/iovs.63.1.21.
Jasien JV, Read AT, van Batenburg-Sherwood J, Perkumas KM, Ethier CR, Stamer WD, Samuels BC. Anterior Segment Anatomy and Conventional Outflow Physiology of the Tree Shrew (Tupaia belangeri). Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2022 Jan 3;63(1):21.

Published In

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci

DOI

EISSN

1552-5783

Publication Date

January 3, 2022

Volume

63

Issue

1

Start / End Page

21

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tupaia
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry
  • Male
  • Intraocular Pressure
  • Glaucoma
  • Female
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Aqueous Humor
  • Anterior Eye Segment
  • Animals