The neuroprotective effects of PACAP in several models of neurodegeneration in the rat retina
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1
Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology , University of Pecs, Hungary
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2
Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pecs, Hungary
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3
Department of Ophtalmology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Hungary
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4
Medical Chemistry Department , University of Szeged, Hungary
Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neurotrophic and neuroprotective peptide that has been shown to exert protective effects in different neuronal injuries, models of neurodegenerative diseases and cerebral ischemia. PACAP and its receptors are present in the retina. Recent studies have shown that PACAP has trophic effects during retinal development. We have provided evidence that PACAP is neuroprotective in several models of retinal degeneration in vitro. In the present study we summarize the protective effects found with intravitreal PACAP treatment in the following models of retinal degeneration in rats: (1) toxic injury induced by monosodium glutamate (MSG) treatment; (2) ischemic injury and (3) degeneration induced by UV-A light. MSG treatment was given at postnatal days 1, 5 and 9, when the blood-retina barrier is still open to MSG and it leads to the severe degeneration of the inner retinal layers. Ischemic injury was induced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion in adult rats. These treatments cause degeneration in all retinal layers. UV-A exposure was performed in adult rats, where it leads to a severe damage of the outer layers of the retina. In all cases, intravitreal PACAP injection (100 pmol) was administered into one eye, while the other eye received saline treatment, serving as control retinas. Histological analysis of the retinas showed that PACAP treatment significantly ameliorated the damaging effects of all treatments. These results provide the basis for future clinical application of PACAP treatment in retinal degeneration.
Support: OTKA: K72592; F67830; 78480; T061766; Richter
Conference:
12th Meeting of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society, Budapest, Hungary, 22 Jan - 24 Jan, 2009.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Pathophysiology and neurology - degenerative disorders
Citation:
Atlasz
T,
Szabadfi
K,
Reglődi
D,
Kiss
P,
Gaal
V,
Tamas
A,
Toth
G,
Szabo
K,
Molnar
A and
Gabriel
R
(2009). The neuroprotective effects of PACAP in several models of neurodegeneration in the rat retina.
Front. Syst. Neurosci.
Conference Abstract:
12th Meeting of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society.
doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.01.2009.04.137
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Received:
04 Mar 2009;
Published Online:
04 Mar 2009.
*
Correspondence:
Tamas Atlasz, Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology , University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary, attam@gamma.ttk.pte.hu