Confirmation of the rat model of chronic, moderately elevated intraocular pressure

We have confirmed the usefulness of the rat model of chronic, moderately el evated intraocular pressure (IOP) for studying loss of retinal ganglion cel ls, and as a model for pharmacological neuroprotection studies that may be relevant to treating human glaucoma. By unilaterally cauterizing three epis cleral vessels, as described previously in the literature by another labora tory, we observed an approximately 1.6-fold increase in IOP compared to the contralateral eye (18.6 vs 11.5 mm Hg, respectively), Elevated IOP persist ed for 6 months without re-treatment. Cupping of the optic disk was observa ble by examination, in vivo. In 6 months, there was an approximately 40 % l oss of retinal ganglion cells in the peripheral retina. This model provides a reproducible and quantitative model for pharmacological experiments usin g neuroprotective agents. (C) 1999 Academic Press.