Establishment of a drug evaluation model against light-induced retinal degeneration using adult pigmented zebrafish.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of irreversible loss of central vision in the elderly. Zebrafish is an attractive animal model in some respects, lower cost, smaller housing facilities and easier genetic manipulation compared to rodents. The present study aimed to establish a drug evaluation method against light irradiation, as a dry AMD disease model, using adult pigmented zebrafish. Intravitreal administration of an antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine, protected against light-induced retinal degeneration in a concentration-dependent manner. We established a new drug evaluation model against light-induced retinal degeneration that can provide new knowledge about dry AMD pathology and therapy.