A Lambiase1, L Aloe. 1. Institute of Neurobiology, CNR, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the biological role of nerve growth factor (NGF) on retinal degeneration in the C3H mouse strain. This strain is characterized by a single gene mutation (rd) which leads to photoreceptor degeneration resembling human retinitis pigmentosa. METHODS: Neural retinas from 1- to 25 day-old C3H mice were dissected from outer ocular tissues, dissociated in cell suspension, stained with a vital dye and counted in a hemocytometer. For in vivo study, NGF was injected into the intraocular or retro-ocular area, and at the end of the treatment the mice were killed. The eyes were enucleated, fixed and cut by cryostat into 14-microns serial sections. The serial sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and the outer nuclear layer (ONL) was measured using a computerized image analysis system. RESULTS: An intraocular injection of NGF, or repeated retro-ocular injections, induced a significant increase in ONL thickness compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Our data show that NGF inhibits retinal degeneration in C3H mice. The mechanism(s) underlying the protective action of NGF against retinal cell death remains to be established.
BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the biological role of nerve growth factor (NGF) on retinal degeneration in the C3H mouse strain. This strain is characterized by a single gene mutation (rd) which leads to photoreceptor degeneration resembling humanretinitis pigmentosa. METHODS: Neural retinas from 1- to 25 day-old C3H mice were dissected from outer ocular tissues, dissociated in cell suspension, stained with a vital dye and counted in a hemocytometer. For in vivo study, NGF was injected into the intraocular or retro-ocular area, and at the end of the treatment the mice were killed. The eyes were enucleated, fixed and cut by cryostat into 14-microns serial sections. The serial sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and the outer nuclear layer (ONL) was measured using a computerized image analysis system. RESULTS: An intraocular injection of NGF, or repeated retro-ocular injections, induced a significant increase in ONL thickness compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Our data show that NGF inhibits retinal degeneration in C3H mice. The mechanism(s) underlying the protective action of NGF against retinal cell death remains to be established.
Authors: A Lambiase; M Centofanti; A Micera; G L Manni; E Mattei; A De Gregorio; G de Feo; M G Bucci; L Aloe Journal: Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol Date: 1997-12 Impact factor: 3.117