title: Urocortin 2 treatment is protective in excitotoxic retinal degeneration.
abstract: Urocortin 2 (Ucn 2) is a corticotrop releasing factor paralog peptide with many physiological functions and it has widespread distribution. There are some data on the cytoprotective effects of Ucn 2, but less is known about its neuro- and retinoprotective actions. We have previously shown that Ucn 2 is protective in ischemia-induced retinal degeneration. The aim of the present study was to examine the protective potential of Ucn 2 in monosodium-glutamate (MSG)-induced retinal degeneration by routine histology and to investigate cell-type specific effects by immunohistochemistry. Rat pups received MSG applied on postnatal days 1, 5 and 9 and Ucn 2 was injected intravitreally into one eye. Retinas were processed for histology and immunocytochemistry after 3 weeks. Immunolabeling was determined for glial fibrillary acidic protein, vesicular glutamate transporter 1, protein kinase Cα, calbindin, parvalbumin and calretinin. Retinal tissue from animals treated with MSG showed severe degeneration compared to normal retinas, but intravitreal Ucn 2 treatment resulted in a retained retinal structure both at histological and neurochemical levels: distinct inner retinal layers and rescued inner retinal cells (different types of amacrine and rod bipolar cells) could be observed. These findings support the neuroprotective function of Ucn 2 in MSG-induced retinal degeneration.
authors: University of Pécs Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences Ifjúság útja 6 H-7624 Pécs Hungary.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Szabadfi
authors: PTE-MTA "Lendület" PACAP Research Team Department of Anatomy Pécs Hungary.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Kiss
authors: PTE-MTA "Lendület" PACAP Research Team Department of Anatomy Pécs Hungary.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Reglodi
authors: The Scripps Research Institute La Jolla CA USA University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Psychiatry Madison WI USA.
authors: E M
authors: EM
authors: Fekete
authors: PTE-MTA "Lendület" PACAP Research Team Department of Anatomy Pécs Hungary.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Tamas
authors: PTE-MTA "Lendület" PACAP Research Team Department of Anatomy Pécs Hungary.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Danyadi
authors: University of Pécs Department of Sportbiology Pécs Hungary.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Atlasz
authors: University of Pécs Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences Ifjúság útja 6 H-7624 Pécs Hungary.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Gabriel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D064032:Calbindin 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D064026:Calbindins / Q000378:metabolism; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010320:Parvalbumins / Q000378:metabolism; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012970:Sodium Glutamate; D013997:Time Factors; D054832:Urocortins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050598:Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C576512:Calb2 protein, rat; D064032:Calbindin 2; D064026:Calbindins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010320:Parvalbumins; C493466:Slc17a7 protein, rat; D054832:Urocortins; D050598:Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha; D012970:Sodium Glutamate
keywords: MSG-excitoxicity; Ucn 2; immunohistochemistry; morphology; retina protection; retinal degeneration