Optimizing intracameral injection for targeted gene therapy and glaucoma model development

Abstract

Intracameral injection is a widely used surgical technique in animal research, serving various purposes such as injecting microbeads to establish a glaucoma model, delivering adeno-associated virus (AAV) to transduce the trabecular meshwork or corneal endothelium, and administering drugs into the anterior chamber. However, performing intracameral injections in mice is particularly challenging due to the small size of the eye and the shallow anterior chamber. To prevent leakage of injected substances, traditional methods often involve the co-injection of sterile air or viscous agents. However, these approaches have significant drawbacks, including the need for repeated injections and the risk of repeated corneal injuries. To address these limitations, we developed a simplified intracameral injection technique for mice that minimizes tissue damage. In this method, the needle first enters the posterior chamber before passing through the pupil into the anterior chamber. To validate the efficacy and safety of this technique, we used it to deliver AAV into the anterior chamber for corneal endothelial cell transduction and to inject magnetic microbeads for establishing a glaucoma model. Our results demonstrate that this novel method is effective, reproducible, and associated with fewer complications.