Fränkl, StephanStephanFränklSimon, QuentinQuentinSimonYucel, YeniYeniYucelGupta, NeeruNeeruGuptaWittwer, Valéry VValéry VWittwerFrueh, Beatrice EBeatrice EFruehTschanz, Stefan A.Stefan A.Tschanz0000-0003-3880-44372024-10-112024-10-112022-09https://boris-portal.unibe.ch/handle/20.500.12422/87776OBJECTIVE One of the most important risk factors for developing a glaucomatous optic neuropathy is elevated intraocular pressure. Moreover, mechanisms such as altered perfusion have been postulated to injure the optical path. In a mouse model, we compare first negative effects of cerebral perfusion/reperfusion on the optic nerve structure versus alterations by elevated intraocular pressure. Second, we compare the alterations by isolated hypoperfusion-reperfusion and isolated intraocular pressure to the combination of both. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Mice were divided in four groups: (1) controls; (2) perfusion altered mice that underwent transient bi-common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) for 40 min; (3) glaucoma group (DBA/2J mice); (4) combined glaucoma and altered perfusion (DBA/2J mice with transient BCCAO). Optic nerve sections were stereologically examined 10-12 weeks after intervention. RESULTS All experimental groups showed a decreased total axon number per optic nerve compared with controls. In DBA/2J and combined DBA/2J & BCCAO mice the significant decrease was roughly 50%, while BCCAO leaded to a 23% reduction of axon number, however reaching significance only in the direct t-test. The difference in axon number between BCCAO and both DBA/2J mice was almost 30%, lacking statistical significance due to a remarkably high variation in both DBA/2J groups. CONCLUSION Elevated intraocular pressure in the DBA/2J mouse model of glaucoma leads to a much more pronounced optic nerve atrophy compared with transient forebrain hypoperfusion and reperfusion by BCCAO. A supposed worsening effect of an altered perfusion added to the pressure-related damage could not be detected.enAnatomy Experimental & animal models Glaucoma Optic Nerve600 - Technology::610 - Medicine & healtharticle10.48350/1733563616183910.1136/bmjophth-2022-001078