Усовершенствованная процедура интравитреальных инъекций мышам с электроретинографической оценкой результатов

Abstract

At the present time vision pathologies affecting the retina are widespread. This prompts the scientific community to conduct research focusing on the methods of treating retinal conditions and their practical application. Injections of therapeutic agents into the vitreous body (intravitreal injections) are being increasingly used both in clinical settings and in research to develop new approaches in treating degenerative and other retinal diseases. The technique of human intravitreal injections is well-developed and sufficiently studied. However, there is also a need to apply intravitreal technique in model animals, in particular, in mice, whose eye is very much different from that of a human. The paper describes the steps we took to improve the technique of intravitreal injections in mice. We assessed the effect of different approaches to intravitreal injection on the retinal function by in vivo electroretinography. As a result, we propose an efficient and safe protocol for the intravitreal administration of various agents into the murine eye. The improved protocol allows to assess the possible adverse effects of the agent itself, rather than induced by injection.