Return to search

Histopathology of human age-related macular degeneration and the development of a novel animal model

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly worldwide. Due to the inadequacy of current pharmacotherapies, novel molecular targets must be sought as potential therapeutic candidates. Furthermore, there is a need for more efficient and cost-effective animal models of this pathology in order to accelerate in vivo investigations. / Our laboratory is in possession of human choroidal neovascular membranes which we examined for expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. This expression was characterized in retinal pigment epithelial, vascular endothelial, and fibroblast cells and correlated with patient age. We also looked at the feasibility of creating a rabbit laser-injury model to adequately mimic human neovascular AMD. / Our results suggest that anti-COX-2 therapies may be beneficial to some patients with neovascular AMD. Moreover, there is strong potential for the development of clinically relevant choroidal neovascularization in rabbits using the laser-injury technique. This approach may yield a novel, cost-effective AMD model.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.112539
Date January 2007
CreatorsMaloney, Shawn C.
PublisherMcGill University
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Formatapplication/pdf
CoverageMaster of Science (Department of Pathology.)
RightsAll items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
Relationalephsysno: 002699474, proquestno: AAIMR51307, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest.

Page generated in 0.002 seconds