title: Effect of purified murine NGF on isolated photoreceptors of a rodent developing retinitis pigmentosa.
abstract: A number of different studies have shown that neurotrophins, including nerve growth factor (NGF) support the survival of retinal ganglion neurons during a variety if insults. Recently, we have reported that that eye NGF administration can protect also photoreceptor degeneration in a mice and rat with inherited retinitis pigmentosa. However, the evidence that NGF acts directly on photoreceptors and that other retinal cells mediate the NGF effect could not be excluded. In the present study we have isolated retinal cells from rats with inherited retinitis pigmentosa (RP) during the post-natal stage of photoreceptor degenerative. In presence of NGF, these cells are characterized by enhanced expression of NGF-receptors and rhodopsin, the specific marker of photoreceptor and better cell survival, as well as neuritis outgrowth. Together these observations support the hypothesis that NGF that NGF acts directly on photoreceptors survival and prevents photoreceptor degeneration as previously suggested by in vivo studies.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, CNR, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rocco
authors.affiliation: IRCCS-G.B. Bietti Foundation, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Bijorn Omar
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Balzamino
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, CNR, Rome, Italy; Dept. Medicine of Systems, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petrocchi Passeri
authors.affiliation: IRCCS-G.B. Bietti Foundation, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Micera
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, CNR, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aloe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression; D051379:Mice; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012243:Rhodopsin; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor