Biomechanical aspects of axonal damage in glaucoma: A brief review

Stowell, Cheri and Burgoyne, Claude F. and Tamm, Ernst R. and Ethier, C. Ross (2017) Biomechanical aspects of axonal damage in glaucoma: A brief review. EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH, 157. pp. 13-19. ISSN 0014-4835, 1096-0007

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Abstract

The biomechanical environment within the optic nerve head (ONH) is complex and is likely directly involved in the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in glaucoma. Unfortunately, our understanding of this process is poor. Here we describe factors that influence ONH biomechanics, including ONH connective tissue microarchitecture and anatomy; intraocular pressure (IOP); and cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFp). We note that connective tissue factors can vary significantly from one individual to the next, as well as regionally within an eye, and that the understanding of ONH biomechanics is hindered by anatomical differences between small-animal models of glaucoma (rats and mice) and humans. Other challenges of using animal models of glaucoma to study the role of biomechanics include the complexity of assessing the degree of glaucomatous progression; and inadequate tools for monitoring and consistently elevating IOP in animal models. We conclude with a consideration of important open research questions/challenges in this area, including: (i) Creating a systems biology description of the ONH; (ii) addressing the role of astrocyte connective tissue remodeling and reactivity in glaucoma; (iii) providing a better characterization of ONH astrocytes and non-astrocytic constituent cells; (iv) better understanding the role of ONH astrocyte phagocytosis, proliferation and death; (v) collecting gene expression and phenotype data on a larger, more coordinated scale; and (vi) developing an implantable IOP sensor. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: OPTIC-NERVE HEAD; LAMINA-CRIBROSA; INTRAOCULAR-PRESSURE; EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX; MOUSE MODEL; RETINAL-DETACHMENT; GENE-EXPRESSION; RAT GLAUCOMA; TREE SHREW; ASTROCYTES;
Subjects: 500 Science > 570 Life sciences
600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine
Divisions: Biology, Preclinical Medicine > Institut für Anatomie > Lehrstuhl für Humananatomie und Embryologie > Prof. Dr. Ernst Tamm
Depositing User: Petra Gürster
Date Deposited: 14 Dec 2018 13:11
Last Modified: 22 Sep 2020 05:54
URI: https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/1084

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