Titon - torsional indirect traumatic optic neuropathy: a novel animal model

The purpose of this study was to establish a physiologically valid method for generating traumatic optic neuropathy in an experimental setting. 29 rats were subjected to varying levels of unilateral torsion generated by the TITON apparatus. Functional visual testing, in the form of the visual evoked potential (VEP), was performed before the torsion, immediately following the torsion, and one week after the torsion. All specimens received bilateral optic dissections for histological analysis. Threshold statistics were used to assess the data obtained during functional visual testing. The threshold values were determined to be 33.3° of rotation at an angular velocity of 2190°/s (p < 0.05), 39.4° at 1860°/s (p < 0.01), and 41.7° at 2190°/s (p < 0.001) for the induction of traumatic optic neuropathy using the TITON apparatus. Analysis of histology and functionality showed that the TITON mechanism was able to reliably reproduce traumatic optic neuropathy for rotational amplitudes and angular velocities at or above the statistically determined threshold.