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Facility Reports and Information
Brooks Air Force Base, TX
Protocol - 2003-10 - Evaluation of a New Non-human Primate Model for Investigation of Laser-Induced Retinal Damage
Title:
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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:
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N1: Physical Protection |
FY:
2003
Funding (in dollars): |
706,000 |
Responsible Organization: |
AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB/BROOKS
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Primary Contact: |
Public Affairs Office |
City:
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Brooks City-Base |
State:
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TX |
Zip:
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78235-5116 |
Performing Organization: |
See Responsible Organization Information
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City:
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State:
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Zip:
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Keywords: |
LABORATORY ANIMALS RETINA EYE LASER INJURY
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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.
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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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