Effects of nerve growth factor for retinal cell survival in experimental retinal detachment.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the neuron protective effect of recombined nerve growth factor (rNGF) on retinal cell damage induced by experimental retinal detachment.


METHODS
Experimental retinal detachment models were created in Sprague-Dawley rats by subretinal injection of sodium hyaluronate. Intravitreal injection of rNGF (5 microg/eye) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was separately applied every 4 days after retinal detachment. The rat eyes were then observed and sacrificed at various time points. Morphologic changes were observed by light microscopy, electron microscopy, and cell counts. Apoptosis of retinal cells was detected by TUNEL assay.


RESULTS
After retinal detachment, most eyes from NGF-treated groups showed better organized structure of retinal cells than those from the PBS-treated control groups. Cell counts indicated that the nuclei numbers in the outer nuclear layer (ONL), inner nuclear layer (INL), and ganglion cell layer (GCL) of NGF-treated groups were significantly more than those from PBS-treated control group (p < 0.05) after retinal reattachment. TUNEL-positive cells were identified in ONL, INL, and GCL. They peaked at the fourth day after retinal detachment in both the NGF-treated groups and the control groups. But the cell counts of apoptosis revealed that the NGF-treated retina had less TUNEL-positive cells than the control groups (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results showed that intravitreal injection of exogenous NGF can protect retinal cells from degeneration and apoptosis in experimental retinal detachment. It may exert its neuroprotection effect by preventing the apoptosis of retinal cells after retinal detachment.
Sun
Xiaodong
X
Eye Research Institute of Shanghai JiaoTong University, 85 Wu Jin Road, Shanghai 200080, China.
Xu
Xun
X
Wang
Fenghua
F
Zhang
Xi
X
Yu
Zhang
Z
Lu
Hongfen
H
Ho
P C
PC
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014822:Vitreous Body
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor