2011 Volume 30 Pages 23-28
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an analytical technique which enables non-invasive cross sectional imaging of the ocular fundus by computing wave intensity and positional information from the interference of the light reflected from bordering regions of different tissue density with that from the original light source when the fundal region is exposed to low-coherence near infra-red light1).
The cynomolgus monkey is widely used for safety evaluation in drug development and, with its macula lutea resembling those of humans, there are abundant background data on the evaluation of ophthalmic toxicity in this species. When ocular fundal abnormalities are to be investigated, examinations can be made with an aspheric lens and indirect ophthalmoscope. However, a considerable degree of proficiency is necessary to gain an understanding of the three-dimensional positional relationship for all tissue layers of the ocular fundus. Furthermore, it is difficult specify to the locations of small abnormalities.
We investigated the application of OCT by taking tomographic images of the ocular fundi of cynomolgus monkeys with macular and peripheral macular degeneration for a comparison with normal cynomolgus monkey. In addition, we report on a comparison of OCT and electroretinography (ERG) in the cynomolgus monkey.
