This article details the dissection and isolation of short posterior ciliary arteries (SPCAs) from porcine eyes. It outlines the anatomical features and the procedural steps necessary for successful isolation of these arteries for further analysis.
The eyeball receives its blood supply primarily from the ophthalmic artery. As the ophthalmic artery passes along the optic nerve, it branches out, forming multiple short posterior ciliary arteries, or SPCAs.
At the posterior side of the eye globe, the SPCA bifurcates into two types of branches. The paraoptic branches enter the sclera - the outermost eye cover - close to the optic nerve. In contrast, distal SPCAs pierce the sclera a short distance from the optic nerve.
To isolate SPCAs, take a freshly dissected porcine eye with the optic nerve and extraocular tissue remnants attached to it. Submerge the eyeball in a dissection chamber containing a suitable physiological buffer.
Dissect the surrounding muscle layers to visualize the arteries around the eye globe. Make a complete circumferential incision on the eye globe to separate the eye into the anterior and posterior halves. Remove the vitreous layer from the eye's posterior half.
Visualize the posterior half of the eye to locate the optic nerve and the adjacent retrobulbar vasculature - the blood vessels behind the eyeball. Locate the paraoptic and distal branches of the short posterior ciliary arteries.
Excise these arterial segments and wash them with the desired buffer to remove contaminants and residual blood. Store SPCAs for further downstream analysis.
Fresh porcine eyes together with optic nerve and extraocular tissues were obtained from the local abattoir immediately post-mortem. Place the eye globe in a dissection chamber containing ice-cold Krebs-Henseleit buffer. Carefully cut away surrounding muscle and tissues with a pair of sharp Mayo scissors.
Make an incision with a scalpel, and cut the globe along the equatorial plane with a pair of sharp Mayo scissors until the eye is separated into the anterior and posterior halves. Remove as much vitreous body as possible from the posterior half of the eye using a pair of standard pattern forceps.
After using dissection pins to carefully pin down the posterior half of the eye, gently cut away the connective tissue surrounding the optic nerve to expose the underlying retrobulbar vasculature with a pair of Student Vannas spring scissors.
Isolate the pair of optic and distal short posterior ciliary artery together with the surrounding connective tissues with a pair of type 5 precision tweezers and Vannas capsulotomy scissors. Gently remove connective tissues from the arterial segments using extra fine-tipped tweezers and scissors before rinsing the isolated arteries in ice-cold PBS to remove contaminants and blood residues.
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