Brooks Air Force Base

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Brooks Air Force Base, TX

Protocol - 2003-10 - Evaluation of a New Non-human Primate Model for Investigation of Laser-Induced Retinal Damage

 

Title:

Evaluation of a New Non-human Primate Model for Investigation of Laser-Induced Retinal Damage: Mechanism of Retinal Damage from Laser Exposure in both Rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and Cynomolgus (Macaca fasicularis) Monkeys

 

Research Category:

N1: Physical Protection

 

FY: 2003 Funding (in dollars):

706,000

 

Responsible Organization:

AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB/BROOKS

Primary Contact:

Public Affairs Office

City:

Brooks City-Base

State:

TX

Zip:

78235-5116

 

Performing Organization:

See Responsible Organization Information

City:

 

State:

 

Zip:

 

 

Keywords:

LABORATORY ANIMALS RETINA EYE LASER INJURY

 

Objective:

This protocol is proposed as the first of a series of "bridging" studies which will collect retinal damage threshold data from an alternative primate model - the Cynomolgus (Macaca fasicularis) whose projected availability and cost could alleviate the problems associated with the continued use of rhesus subjects for such studies. The proposed experiments are structured in such a way as to continue to collect limited retinal damage threshold and damage mechanism data pertinent to laser safety standard issues while replicating the experiments for several key laser exposure parameters.

 

Approach:

The great majority of the experimental data base upon which DOD (AFOSH 48-139, DODI 6055.15, STANAG 3606) and national laser safety standards (ANSI Z136.1-2000) are based, consists of laser retinal damage thresholds obtained using the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) as an animal model. Due to the increased need by the human/simian retrovirus research community, in the investigation of AIDS, Indian Origin Rhesus Monkeys have become extremely difficult to obtain. The experiments are designed to evaluate the efficiency of the Cynomolgus monkey as a suitable alternate animal model for future laser ocular effects studies. While the primary reasons (comparable retinal and choroidal pigmentation and vasculature; presence of a fovea; comparing the data to existing data bases; etc) for using a primate model for studies of retinal damage thresholds and damage mechanisms remain compelling, the projected limited availability and great expenses associated with the use of rhesus makes the continuous use of this species for future laser effects studies problematic. This protocol is proposed as the first of a series of "bridging" studies which will collect retinal damage threshold data from an alternative primate model - the Cynomolgus (Macaca fasicularis) whose retinal structure and pigmentation is similar to humans and their projected availability and cost could alleviate the problems associated with the continued use of rhesus subjects for such studies. The laser retinal damage threshold will be determined for specified laser parameter combinations where existing rhesus threshold data has already been published and discussed in the open literature. If the Cynomolgus ED50 thresholds should match those of the rhesus (within the Probit analysis fiducial limits) or extrapolate to the rhesus (and therefore, to the human) via a consistent correction factor, then the Cynomolgus may be a suitable alternative to the rhesus for future laser-induced retinal damage studies.

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Rats, mice, birds, amphibians and other animals have been excluded from coverage by the Animal Welfare Act. Therefore research facility reports do not include these animals. As a result of this situation, a blank report, or one with few animals listed, does not mean that a facility has not performed experiments on non-reportable animals. A blank form does mean that the facility in question has not used covered animals (primates, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, pigs, sheep, goats, etc.). Rats and mice alone are believed to comprise over 90% of the animals used in experimentation. Therefore the majority of animals used at research facilities are not even counted.

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