Autofluorescent Organelles Within the Retinal Pigment Epithelium in Human Donor Eyes With and Without Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells contain lipofuscin, melanolipofuscin, and melanosome organelles that impact clinical autofluorescence (AF) imaging. Here, we quantified the effect of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on granule count and histologic AF of RPE cell bodies.

Methods

Seven AMD-affected human RPE-Bruch's membrane flatmounts (early and intermediate = 3, late dry = 1, and neovascular = 3) were imaged at fovea, perifovea, and near periphery using structured illumination and confocal AF microscopy (excitation 488 nm) and compared to RPE-flatmounts with unremarkable macula (n = 7, >80 years). Subsequently, granules were marked with computer assistance, and classified by their AF properties. The AF/cell was calculated from confocal images. The t

SUBMITTER: Bermond K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8787573 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature