Age-related macular degeneration: importance of the use of animals models for the study of its pathogenesis and potential therapeutic agents

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial pathology where macula, high photoreceptor region of the retina, suffers a degeneration causing loss of central vision. AMD is a chronic disease that mainly affects adults over 65 years old. Its pathogenic mechanisms are unknown plenty, therefore it is important to deepen the study of its pathogenic mechanisms in order to develop new therapeutic agents. In this sense, experimental animals are a valuable tool since they offer us the possibility of studying
multiple processes during the pathology. Among the various species currently used, rodents widely stand out, although none of them allow to fully reproduce the stages of the Bitácora digital / Facultad de Ciencias Químicas (UNC) І2 pathology as it occurs in humans. In this review, we will try to expose the virtues and limitations of the different animal models available today, to improve the understanding of the mechanisms of AMD as well as their application in the development of new therapeutic strategies for its prevention and treatment.