A novel experimental mouse model of retinal detachment: complete functional and histologic recovery of the retina.

PURPOSE To establish an experimental mouse model of retinal detachment (RD) created by corneal puncture (CP). METHODS Mouse corneas were punctured with a 30.5-gauge beveled needle, and the anterior chamber was penetrated. Histologic and functional changes of the retina were examined by light microscopy and electroretinography (ERG). Certain retinal cellular responses were examined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in the retina was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated uridine 5'-triphosphate-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL). RESULTS. CP caused transient leakage of aqueous humor along the needle shaft and immediate formation of multiple retinal blebs, which shrank and flattened within 24 hours. Bleb formation was associated with detachment of the neuroretina from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). After CP, the RPE cells underwent extensive transformation during retinal detachment/reattachment, but they resumed normal morphology on retinal reattachment around 10 to 13 days after CP. Relative to pre-CP ERG amplitudes, the punctured eyes showed decreases of 45% and 24% in scotopic and 7% and 12% in photopic b- and a-wave amplitudes, respectively, within 10 to 20 minutes after CP. The ERG amplitudes recovered fully by 12 hours after CP. No infiltrated cells were observed in the subretinal space, and no proliferating or TUNEL-positive cells were observed in the retina of the punctured eyes. CONCLUSIONS Puncturing the mouse cornea can create transient RD, and the functional and histologic changes in the retina can subsequently recover. This experimental mouse model of RD mimics human traction and serous RD.