Nerve growth factor delays retinal degeneration in C3H mice.
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Lambiase
A
A
Institute of Neurobiology, CNR, Rome, Italy.
Aloe
L
L
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007267:Injections; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014822:Vitreous Body
D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors