Rasagiline delays retinal degeneration in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa via modulation of Bax/Bcl-2 expression.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited disease characterized by a progressive degeneration of rod photoreceptors. An imbalance between pro- and antiapoptotic factors, such as Bax/Bcl-2, has been involved in retinal degeneration. To date, no cure or effective treatments are available for RP. Rasagiline is an antiparkinsonian drug that has shown neuroprotective effects in part attributed to a modulation of Bax/Bcl-2 expression. In this study, we have evaluated the use of rasagiline as a potential treatment for RP.

Methods

Newborn rd10 mice, a RP model, were treated with oral rasagiline during 30 days followed by a functional and morphological characterization of their mouse retinas.

Results

Treated animals showed a significant improvement in visual acuity and in

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Delgado AB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6489995 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature