It has been previously shown that rats subjected to long-term blue light exposure developed intraocular masses that were pathologically diagnosed as ocular melanoma [7]. A recent statistical study has demonstrated an increased risk of developing dysplastic skin nevi 4SC-202 in children previously treated with neonatal blue-light therapy

at birth [8]. Several well-documented risk factors for the development of UM have been identified, including age, iris color and skin pigmentation [2]. Even though sunlight exposure is considered a significant risk factor by some [9], the relationship between sunlight exposure and UM development remains controversial [10]. It has been demonstrated in primates that blue light can mediate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the posterior segment of the eye. This ROS production due to blue light exposure could be responsible for cellular damage to the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells [11]. The production of these ROS may therefore play an important role in the development of age-related macular degeneration [12]. Our laboratory has previously shown that the proliferation rates of human uveal melanoma cell lines increase significantly in vitro after exposure to relatively

high amounts of blue light [6]. We therefore propose to extend these preliminary in vitro studies to investigate the potential effects of blue light in an in vivo ocular melanoma animal model [13]. Methods The animal model was carried out in compliance with the Association for Research in Vision learn more and Ophthalmology Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research. The approval of both the Animal Care Committee and the Ethics Subcommittee

at McGill University was obtained prior to all experiments. Animals Twenty female New Zealand albino rabbits (Charles River Canada, St-Constant, Québec) were randomly divided into two groups, control and experimental, with mean initial weights of 3.2 ± 0.18 kg and 3.2 ± 0.17 kg ID-8 respectively. Female animals were used to avoid aggressive conflicts that can occur when group-housing male animals. The animals were immunosuppressed daily using intramuscular injections of cyclosporine A (CsA; Sandimmune 50 mg/ml, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Dorval, Québec, Canada) in order to avoid rejection of the human cells. CsA administration was maintained throughout the 8-week GSK2126458 chemical structure experiment to prevent tumor regression. The dosage schedule recommended in previous studies was employed: 15 mg/kg/day, 3 days before cell inoculation and during 4 weeks thereafter, followed by 10 mg/kg/day during the last 4 weeks of the experiment [13]. CsA doses were adjusted weekly according to the animal weight to compensate for any weight loss during the experiment.