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

项目总结/摘要 人类的视觉始于光感受器收集并对光线做出反应。光感受器不起作用， 但是与邻近的光感受器、视网膜色素 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，而且还有整个光感受器-RPE-CC复合物，大多数视网膜色素上皮细胞的主要部位。 包括年龄相关性黄斑变性（AMD）和遗传性疾病如视网膜炎 色素沉着（RP）。然而，在体内评估这种复合物的技术是有限的。新的光学模式， 快速、特异和非侵入性的，有望大大扩展我们监测更多疾病的能力。 准确、完整地表达了光感受器-RPE-CC复合物。 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 在细胞水平上快速和可重复地测量光感受器-RPE-CC复合物的体积区域。我们将 使用MHz AO-OCT结合亚细胞3D配准和相位技术， 开发了对小至45 nm的光学长度变化敏感的传感器。我们将使用这些技术， 研究三个具体目标：（1）确定感光盘脱落的特性，（2）评估 玻璃疣的细胞周围的破坏，AMD的早期指标，和（3）测量细胞损失动力学， Rp.

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.