title: Brain derived neurotrophic factor keeps pattern electroretinogram from dropping after superior colliculus lesion in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) could offer protention to retinal ganglion cells following a superior colliculus (SC) lesion in mice using pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a measures of ganglion cell response and retinal health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven C57BL/6J mice with BDNF protection were tested with PERG and OCT before and after SC lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with baseline PERG, the amplitude of PERG decreased 11.7% after SC lesions, but not significantly (P>0.05). Through fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis of the PERGs before and after SC lesions, it was found that dominant frequency of PERGs stayed unchanged, suggesting that the ganglion cells of the retina remained relatively healthy inspite of damage to the ends of the ganglion cell axons. Also, OCT showed no changes in retinal thickness after lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that BDNF is essential component of normal retinal and helps retina keeping normal function. While retina lack of BDNF, ex vivo resource of BDNF provides protection to the sick retina. It implies that BDNF is a kind therapeutic neurotrophic factor to retina neurodegeneration diseases, such as glaucoma, age related macular degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Department of Ophthalmology Key Laboratory, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Bin-Bin
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Life Science School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Life Science Department, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai'an 223300, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Huai-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Ding
keywords: brain-derived neurotrophic factor; fast Fourier transform; optical coherence tomography; pattern electroretinogram; retina; superior colliculus