Silicone Oil-Induced Glaucomatous Neurodegeneration in Rhesus Macaques

Abstract

Previously, we developed a simple procedure of intracameral injection of silicone oil (SO) into mouse eyes and established the mouse SOHU (SO-induced ocular hypertension under-detected) glaucoma model with reversible intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation and significant glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Because the anatomy of the non-human primate (NHP) visual system closely resembles that of humans, it is the most likely to predict human responses to diseases and therapies. Here we replicated the SOHU glaucoma model in rhesus macaque monkeys. All six animals that we tested showed significant retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, optic nerve (ON) degeneration, and visual functional deficits at both 3 and 6 months. In contrast to the mouse SOHU model, IOP changed dynamically in these animals, probably due to individual differences in ciliary body tolerance capability. This acute NHP glaucoma model closely recapitulates the major features of glaucomatous neurodegeneration in humans, and is therefore suitable for studying the pathology of primate RGC/ON, assessing experimental therapies for neuroprotection and regeneration, and therefore for translating relevant findings into novel and effective treatments for patients with glaucoma and other neurodegenerations.