Basic fibroblast growth factor treatment delays age-related photoreceptor degeneration in Fischer 344 rats

Experimental Eye Research
N LinJ E Turner

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate the potential of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to delay photoreceptor cell loss in retinas of Fischer 344 rats which exhibit an age-related peripheral retinopathy. Eight male 16-month-old Fischer 344 rats were injected intravitreally with 2.0 micrograms bFGF in the right eye, while the vehicle was injected into the left eye and all rats were killed at two months post-injection. Eight other Fischer rats were injected with either bFGF or vehicle at 16 and again at 18 months, then killed two months later. After enucleation, eyes were processed for light and electron microscopic and morphometric analyses. The distance from the ora serrata to the point where the outer nuclear layer (ONL) in the superior retina was two cells in thickness, called the die-back zone, that represents the extent of the peripheral retinopathy, was compared in bFGF- and vehicle-injected Fischer rats. These measurements revealed that the die-back zone in retinas of eyes injected twice with bFGF was significantly reduced (P < 0.01) when compared to this zone in retinas of age-matched rats that received vehicle injections. However, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in this degeneration zone in retin...Continue Reading

Citations

Oct 22, 2008·Toxicological Sciences : an Official Journal of the Society of Toxicology·Zhen LiJoyce Royland
Jan 15, 2014·Survey of Ophthalmology·Anton M Kolomeyer, Marco A Zarbin
Jul 11, 1998·Experimental Eye Research·M E CarwileT W Kraft
May 18, 2001·Molecular Therapy : the Journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy·B SpencerC R Brandt
Aug 2, 2007·Human Molecular Genetics·Li FuEric A Pierce
Oct 19, 2001·Current Eye Research·N N OsborneJ Melena
Oct 10, 2007·In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology. Animal·Harold J SheedloRouel S Roque
May 29, 1998·Brain Research. Developmental Brain Research·H J SheedloJ E Turner

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