McKibben Nolan, Zhang Yanqi, Li Shenglin, Kong Lingyan, Tan Libo
Department of Human Nutrition, Hospitality and Sport Management, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA.
Department of Human Nutrition, Hospitality and Sport Management, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA.
Exp Eye Res. 2025 Sep;258:110460. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2025.110460. Epub 2025 May 28.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), caused by oxidative stress leading to abnormal retinal vessel growth, is often studied in rodent models. However, current methods rely on in vitro analysis, preventing the monitoring of disease progression. Fundus imaging is commonly used in clinical ophthalmology and could provide a method for in vivo imaging in rodents with ROP. Recently, a smartphone and condensing lens have been shown to be effective in humans and mice. The aim of this study was to develop a smartphone-based fundus camera system that can be used to monitor in vivo changes caused by ROP and determine its effectiveness upon introducing an intervention of lutein. KRN 633 was used to induce ROP and fundus imaging was conducted using a condensing lens and a smartphone. In vitro analysis of the retina was conducted for comparison using immunohistochemistry. The tortuosity was analyzed from fundus images manually using ImageJ and by a newly developed computer vision-based method. ROP induced tortuous arteries, which was improved by the administration of lutein in the fundus and microscopy images of the retina. The two imaging techniques showed a strong positive correlation. Similarly, the computer vision-based tortuosity analysis displayed a strong linear relationship with ImageJ analysis. This smartphone-based fundus camera system offers a cheap and accessible method for in vivo imaging to supplement traditional histological analysis. With future development, the image processing technique described can be enhanced to include other measures of visual function.
早产儿视网膜病变（ROP）由氧化应激导致视网膜血管异常生长引起，常在啮齿动物模型中进行研究。然而，目前的方法依赖体外分析，无法监测疾病进展。眼底成像在临床眼科中常用，可为患有ROP的啮齿动物提供体内成像方法。最近，已证明智能手机和聚光透镜在人类和小鼠中有效。本研究的目的是开发一种基于智能手机的眼底相机系统，可用于监测ROP引起的体内变化，并确定引入叶黄素干预后的效果。使用KRN 633诱导ROP，并使用聚光透镜和智能手机进行眼底成像。使用免疫组织化学对视网膜进行体外分析以作比较。使用ImageJ手动从眼底图像中分析血管迂曲度，并通过新开发的基于计算机视觉的方法进行分析。ROP诱导动脉迂曲，在眼底和视网膜显微镜图像中，叶黄素给药可改善这种情况。两种成像技术显示出很强的正相关性。同样，基于计算机视觉的迂曲度分析与ImageJ分析显示出很强的线性关系。这种基于智能手机的眼底相机系统为体内成像提供了一种廉价且可及的方法，以补充传统的组织学分析。随着未来的发展，所描述的图像处理技术可得到增强，以纳入视觉功能的其他指标。
