Pigment epithelium derived factor as a neuroprotective agent against ischemic retinal injury.
OBJECTIVE
Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a protein shown to have neurotrophic activity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PEDF is neuroprotective of retinal neurons that are exposed to transient ischemia-reperfusion.


METHODS
Transient retinal ischemia was produced by increasing the intraocular pressure for 45 min in albino rats eyes. Immediately after reperfusion, PEDF was injected intravitreally into the experimental eyes. Injury was evaluated morphologically and by measuring the thickness of the inner retinal layers (IRL) and by counting the number of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in epon embedded sections.


RESULTS
Morphologic and morphometric analysis of the thickness of the IRL and the counting of RGC demonstrated that PEDF injected immediately after reperfusion protected the eyes partially but significantly from the ischemic injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal injection of PEDF even after the ischemia can ameliorate retinal injury. PEDF may be useful in preventing neuronal degeneration in the inner retina resulting from ischemia.
Ogata
N
N
Department of Ophthalmology, Kansai Medical University, Fumizono-cho 10-15, Moriguchi, Osaka 570-8507, Japan. ogata@takii.kmu.ac.jp
Wang
L
L
Jo
N
N
Tombran-Tink
J
J
Takahashi
K
K
Mrazek
D
D
Matsumura
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007267:Injections; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D015843:Serpins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor
D005136:Eye Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011506:Proteins; D015843:Serpins; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor