The neuroprotective effects of urocortin in bilateral common carotid occlusion induced retinal degeneration
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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
The Scripps Research Institute , United States
Urocortin 2 (Ucn 2) is corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) paralog that preferentially activates CRF2 receptors. Ucns exert CRF2-mediated cytoprotective effects against ischemia-reperfusion injury in cardiomyocytes. However, little is known regarding potential retinoprotective effects of Ucns despite the known presence of CRF family peptides and their receptors in retina. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of intravitreal Ucn 2 administration on ischemia-induced retinal degeneration. Two-month-old rats were subjected to bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, and their retinas were processed histologically after two weeks survival to determine the density of viable cells in the ganglionic cell layer and the thickness of all retinal layers. Immunohistological analysis of PKC-, calretinin-immunoreactivity was also performed. In vehicle-treated subjects, carotid occlusion reduced retina thickness by approximately 60% as compared to sham-operated animals. In contrast, intraocular Ucn 2 treatment led to a nearly intact appearance of the retinal layers, and the thickness of all layers was significantly increased by 40% compared to ischemic vehicle-treated subjects. Ucn 2 treatment also increased the number of cells by 55% in the ganglionic cell layer as compared to those from carotid-occluded retinas of vehicle-treated subjects. Ucn 2 also reversed the alterations found in the pattern of immunocytochemical markers, such as calretinin and PKC. These findings suggest that intraocular Ucn 2 treatment may protect against ischemia-induced retinal degeneration, results with potential therapeutic implications for ophthalmic diseases.
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:
Szabo
K,
Szabadfi
K,
Atlasz
T,
Reglődi
D,
Kiss
P,
Danyadi
B,
Tamas
A,
Fekete
EM,
Zorrilla
EP and
Gabriel
R
(2009). The neuroprotective effects of urocortin in bilateral common carotid occlusion induced retinal degeneration.
Front. Syst. Neurosci.
Conference Abstract:
12th Meeting of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society.
doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.01.2009.04.175
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Received:
05 Mar 2009;
Published Online:
05 Mar 2009.
*
Correspondence:
Klaudia Szabo, Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology , University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary, kriszta.szabadfi@gmail.com