title: Effects of Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid and Alpha-Lipoic-Acid on the Visual Response Properties of Cat Retinal Ganglion Cells: An In Vitro Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) and alpha-lipoic-acid (ALA) on the visual response properties of cat retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in wholemount retinas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young adult cats were divided into three groups: control, ALA, and TUDCA. In vitro single-unit extracellular recordings were performed on wholemount retinas to objectively evaluate the visual response properties of RGCs prior and post to antioxidant treatment. The visual responses properties of RGCs, including receptive field size, luminance threshold, and contrast sensitivity, were collected online and analyzed off-line with Axon Pclamp9.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the RF sizes were larger than those plotted prior to the 60 minutes dark adaptation. The luminance threshold was elevated in the control group (no treatment) but reduced post ALA treatment and significantly reduced post TUDCA treatment. The contrast threshold was significantly elevated in the control group (no treatment) and clearly elevated post ALA treatment but effectively sustained post TUCDA treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retinal neurocircuitry deteriorates in wholemount retinas, resulting in abnormal visual response properties in RGCs. Alpha-lipoic-acid and TUDCA exerted beneficial neuroprotective effects by activating the antioxidant pathway, partially restoring the functionality of retinal neurocircuitry and significantly improving the visual response properties of RGCs. However, TUDCA appears to be more effective than ALA in reducing irradiance thresholds and improving contrast sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy/Embryology School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China 2Key Laboratory on Machine Perception (Ministry of Education), Peking University, Beijing, China 3Key Laboratory for Visual Impairment and Restoration (Mi.
authors.forename: Huika
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy/Embryology School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China 2Key Laboratory on Machine Perception (Ministry of Education), Peking University, Beijing, China 3Key Laboratory for Visual Impairment and Restoration (Mi.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nan
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy/Embryology School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China 2Key Laboratory on Machine Perception (Ministry of Education), Peking University, Beijing, China 3Key Laboratory for Visual Impairment and Restoration (Mi.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy/Embryology School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China 2Key Laboratory on Machine Perception (Ministry of Education), Peking University, Beijing, China 3Key Laboratory for Visual Impairment and Restoration (Mi.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy/Embryology School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China 2Key Laboratory on Machine Perception (Ministry of Education), Peking University, Beijing, China 3Key Laboratory for Visual Impairment and Restoration (Mi.
authors.forename: Mingliang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008839:Microelectrodes; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013655:Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D013655:Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid; C031655:ursodoxicoltaurine; D008063:Thioctic Acid