Imaging Structure and Function of the Photoreceptor-RPE-Choriocapillaris Complex

项目摘要/摘要 当光感受器收集光并对光做出反应时，人类的视觉就开始了。光感受器在体内不起作用 虽然是孤立的，但与邻近的光感受器、视网膜色素有着密切的相互依赖关系 上皮(RPE)细胞和脉络膜毛细血管(CC)。这些密切的相互作用构成了 光感受器，也是整个光感受器-RPE-CC复合体，最主要的视网膜部位 营养不良包括老年性黄斑变性(AMD)和遗传性疾病，如视网膜炎 色素变性(RP)。然而，在体内评估这种复杂性的技术是有限的。新的光学模式， 是快速、具体和非侵入性的，有望极大地扩展我们的监控能力 准确、完整地得到光感受器-RPE-CC复合体。 这项研究利用了我实验室开发的独特的AO和OCT仪器进行采样 光感受器-RPE-CC复合体在细胞水平上的快速和可重复的体积区域。我们会 将MHz AO-OCT与我们拥有的亚蜂窝3D配准和相位技术结合使用 开发出了对光学长度变化敏感的产品，最小为45 nm。我们将使用这些技术来 研究三个具体目标：(1)测定光感受器盘脱落的特性；(2)评价 玻璃体周围细胞的破坏，AMD的早期指标，和(3)测量细胞丢失动力学。 反相。

Project Summary/Abstract Human vision starts when photoreceptors collect and respond to light. Photoreceptors do not function in isolation though, but share close interdependence with neighboring photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, and choriocapillaris (CC). These close interactions underlie normal function of photoreceptors, but also the entire photoreceptor-RPE-CC complex, the primary site of most retinal dystrophies including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and inherited diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Techniques to assess this complex in vivo, however, are limited. New optical modalities that are rapid, specific, and non-invasive hold the promise of greatly expanding our capability to monitor more accurately and completely the photoreceptor-RPE-CC complex. This study takes advantage of unique AO and OCT instrumentation developed in my laboratory for sampling rapidly and reproducibly volume regions of the photoreceptor-RPE-CC complex at the cellular level. We will use MHz AO-OCT in conjunction with sub-cellular 3D registration and phase techniques that we have developed that are sensitive to optical length changes as small as 45 nm. We will use these techniques to investigate three specific aims: (1) determine properties of photoreceptor disc shedding, (2) evaluate disruption in the cellular surround of drusen, an early indicator of AMD, and (3) measure cell loss dynamics in RP.