Retinal photoreceptor damage produced in guinea pigs by tunicamycin

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dc.contributor.authorSpencer, B.G.
dc.contributor.authorBlumbergs, P.C.
dc.contributor.authorManavis, J.
dc.contributor.authorFinnie, J.W.
dc.date.issued2020
dc.description.abstractCorynetoxins, members of the tunicamycin group of antibiotics, produce a severe and frequently fatal neurological disorder in ruminant livestock, and guinea pigs are a useful model to study the pathology and pathogenesis of this disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether tunicamycin produced ocular damage in this species, which could have pharmacotherapeutic and diagnostic value. Four 8-week-old guinea pigs were treated with tunicamycin, and two control animals were given the drug vehicle only. Guinea pigs were injected subcutaneously with 400 μg/kg of tunicamycin, in dimethyl sulphoxide, and killed 48 h post-injection. The eyes were then examined by light microscopy. Immunohistochemistry for rhodopsin was also performed. The principal pathological finding was marked retinal photoreceptor damage, which was characterised by disruption and disorganisation of rods, sometimes progressing to necrosis and separation of the outer segment. The cytoplasm of some rods was focally distended by accumulated, proteinaceous material. Rhodopsin immunopositivity in injured rods was markedly diminished and associated with shrinkage and shortening of the injured rod’s outer segment. Ocular pathology, in the form of reproducible and extensive retinal photoreceptor damage, was found in guinea pigs given tunicamycin, extending the range of species found to be susceptible to this toxic injury. The guinea pig could prove to be a good animal model to test potential therapeutic interventions, and as brain lesions are often minimal and liver pathology non-specific in intoxicated ruminants, any spontaneously arising ophthalmic injury found in these species could be diagnostically useful.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityBG. Spencer, PC. Blumbergs, J. Manavis, and JW. Finnie
dc.identifier.citationAustralian Veterinary Journal, 2020; 98(9):424-428
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/avj.12987
dc.identifier.issn0005-0423
dc.identifier.issn1751-0813
dc.identifier.orcidManavis, J. [0000-0001-7381-7781] [0000-0003-1268-561X]
dc.identifier.orcidFinnie, J.W. [0000-0003-2277-1693]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/146106
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherWiley
dc.rights© 2020 State of South Australia
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/avj.12987
dc.subjectguinea pig; photoreceptor damage; retina; tunicamycin
dc.subject.meshAnimals
dc.subject.meshGuinea Pigs
dc.subject.meshDisease Models, Animal
dc.subject.meshRhodopsin
dc.subject.meshTunicamycin
dc.subject.meshPhotoreceptor Cells
dc.subject.meshPhotoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate
dc.titleRetinal photoreceptor damage produced in guinea pigs by tunicamycin
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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