title: Functional rescue of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced retinopathy by nicotinamide in Sprague-Dawley rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg body weight of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) into rats results in retinal degeneration over a 7-day period in all treated animals. The purpose of this study was to determine whether nicotinamide (NAM) can lead to a functional rescue of the MNU-induced retinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  NAM, a water-soluble B-group vitamin (vitamin B( 3)), was administered immediately after MNU injection, and retinas were examined morphologically and functionally.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphologically, 1000 mg/kg NAM completely suppressed and 50 mg/kg NAM partially suppressed the photoreceptor cell loss. Functionally, scotopic and photopic electroretinographic (ERG) recordings showed that both rod and cone photoreceptor cells were well protected from MNU damage by 1000 mg/kg NAM and partially protected by 50 mg/kg NAM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NAM can protect photoreceptor cells from MNU-induced retinopathy both structurally and functionally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Osaka 570-8506, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiuchi
authors.forename: Mineo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Kaei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moriguchi
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshizawa
authors.forename: Yozo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Miyo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: Airo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsubura
mesh_terms: D000477:Alkylating Agents; D000818:Animals; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D008770:Methylnitrosourea; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000477:Alkylating Agents; D009536:Niacinamide; D008770:Methylnitrosourea