@article{1414,
  keywords = {vertebrate retina, three Rs, animal welfare , stress model},
  author = {K Januschowski and M Mariacher and M Vitkute and S Müller and P Szurman and S Mariacher},
  title = {The isolated perfused bovine retina organ culture model as an ex-vivo approach for retinal toxicity testing, a potential replacement for animal experiments},
  abstract = {Despite different efforts to reduce the number of animals and improve animal welfare in  experimental testing different approaches exist to further implement the three Rs concept.  In human ophthalmology different animal replacement models exist using different  approaches like in-vitro and ex-vivo testing. One of those well-established ex-vivo models  is the isolated perfused bovine retinal organ culture model. This model is able to test  substances for their retinal toxicity using enucleated bovine eyes post mortem. These eyes  need special preparation and treatment before testing a substance in different concentrations  and different perfusion durations. Results are obtained by analyzing the amplitudes  of the electroretinogram (ERG) at baseline, during the application of the substance and  after a washout phase. A-wave and b-wave analysis can identify retinal and higher order  stress during application. The complex retinal structure is a perfect organ for ex-vivo testing  and the isolated perfused retinal model a reliable model for toxicity testing of different  potential toxic or even neuroprotective substances and therefore is a potential candidate  to be used as an animal replacement. Different models are developed in the recent past  and especially computer based models as well as in-vitro and ex-vivo testing are able to  further reduce the number of animals in experimental testing in the future potentially even  without reducing quality of scientific data.},
  year = {2018},
  journal = {Berliner und Münchener Tierärztliche Wochenschrift},
  volume = {131},
  month = {07/2018},
  publisher = {Schlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG},
  address = {Hannover},
  issn = {0005-9366},
  doi = {10.2376/0005-9366-17097},
  language = {English},
}