title: Investigation of PACAP Fragments and Related Peptides in Chronic Retinal Hypoperfusion.
abstract: Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) has neuroprotective effects in different neuronal and retinal injuries. Retinal ischemia can be effectively modelled by permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO), which causes chronic hypoperfusion-induced degeneration in the entire rat retina. The retinoprotective effect of PACAP 1-38 and VIP is well-established in ischemic retinopathy. However, little is known about the effects of related peptides and PACAP fragments in ischemic retinopathy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential retinoprotective effects of different PACAP fragments (PACAP 4-13, 4-22, 6-10, 6-15, 11-15, and 20-31) and related peptides (secretin, glucagon) in BCCAO-induced ischemic retinopathy. Wistar rats (3-4 months old) were used in the experiment. After performing BCCAO, the right eyes of the animals were treated with PACAP fragments or related peptides intravitreal (100 pM), while the left eyes were injected with saline serving as control eyes. Sham-operated (without BCCAO) rats received the same treatment. Routine histology was performed 2 weeks after the surgery; cells were counted and the thickness of retinal layers was compared. Our results revealed significant neuroprotection by PACAP 1-38 but did not reveal retinoprotective effect of the PACAP fragments or related peptides. These results suggest that PACAP 1-38 has the greatest efficacy in ischemic retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, PTE-MTA "Lendulet" PACAP Research Team, University of Pecs, Szigeti ut 12, Pecs 7624, Hungary.
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Werling
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, PTE-MTA "Lendulet" PACAP Research Team, University of Pecs, Szigeti ut 12, Pecs 7624, Hungary.
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reglodi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, PTE-MTA "Lendulet" PACAP Research Team, University of Pecs, Szigeti ut 12, Pecs 7624, Hungary.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dom Ter 8, Szeged 6720, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gabor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pecs, Ifjusag Utja 6, Pecs 7624, Hungary.
authors.forename: Krisztina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szabadfi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, PTE-MTA "Lendulet" PACAP Research Team, University of Pecs, Szigeti ut 12, Pecs 7624, Hungary.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamas
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pecs, Nyar Utca 8, Pecs 7624, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Biro
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, PTE-MTA "Lendulet" PACAP Research Team, University of Pecs, Szigeti ut 12, Pecs 7624, Hungary ; Department of Sportbiology, University of Pecs, Ifjusag Utja 6, Pecs 7624, Hungary ; Janos Szentagothai Research Center, University of Pecs, Ifjusag Utja 20, Pecs 7624, Hungary.
authors.forename: Tamas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Atlasz