New mouse model for Age-related Macular Degeneration

Dr. Manas Biswal from the University of Florida presented research on a new mouse model for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The model, which increases oxidative stress in the retinal-pigmented epithelium (RPE) by loss of the Sod2 gene, develops some of the hallmarks of Age-related Macular degeneration and will allow for the screening of drugs that reduce oxidative stress in the retinal-pigmented epithelium.

Damage to the retinal-pigmented epithelium by oxidative stress has long been recognized as an important contributing factor to the progression of dry Age-related Macular degeneration, which currently can only be marginally slowed by food supplementation of a cocktail of vitamins that reduce oxidative stress. The mouse model presented by Dr. Biswal allows for the efficient testing of many antioxidant drugs and may thus open avenues for the discovery of new compounds that have the potential to be effective in the eye. Read more on Dr. Biswal’s research.