Towards maximising information extraction from rodent models of ocular disease

Loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) has a central role in retinal disorders including glaucoma, which result in progressive vision loss over time. The global glaucoma prevalence is currently estimated to be 3.54% of the population aged between 40 and 80 years.1 Currently, raised intraocular pressure (IOP) presents the only modifiable risk factor. However, some glaucoma patients continue to lose vision despite having well controlled IOPs.2 This has led to a search for alternative strategies to promote RGC preservation.3 Experimental glaucoma models and whole-retinal mounts have proven a useful ex vivo tool for the assessment of potential new treatments using well-established protocols for labelling RGCs, including using nuclear-restricted transcription factor brain-specific homeobox/POU domain protein 3A (Brn-3A)