Intravitreal NGF administration counteracts retina degeneration after permanent carotid artery occlusion in rat.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The neurotrophin nerve growth factor (NGF) is produced by different cell types in the anterior and posterior eye, exerting a neuroprotective role in the adult life. The visual system is highly sensitive to NGF and the retina and optic nerve provides suitable subjects for the study of central nervous system degeneration. The model of bilateral carotid occlusion (two-vessel occlusion, 2VO) is a well-established model for chronic brain hypoperfusion leading to brain capillary pathology, to retina and optic nerve degeneration. In order to study if a single intravitreal injection of NGF protects the retina and the optic nerve from degeneration during systemic circulatory diseases, we investigated morphological and molecular changes occurring in the retina and optic nerve of a

SUBMITTER: Sivilia S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2699342 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature