ATP-Induced Photoreceptor Death in a Feline Model of Retinal Degeneration

Purpose.: To develop and characterize a feline model of retinal degeneration induced by intravitreal injection of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Methods.: Nineteen normally sighted adult cats received 100 μL intravitreal injections of ATP with a final concentration of 11, 22, or 55 mM at the retina. Four animals were euthanized 30 hours after injection and retinal sections examined for apoptosis using a TUNEL cell death assay. In the remaining...