advertisement
Abstract #6661 Published in IGR 4-1
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor enhances neurite regeneration from retinal ganglion cells in aged human retina in vitro
Takano M; Horie H; Iijima Y; Dezawa M; Sawada H; Ishikawa YExperimental Eye Research 2002; 74: 319-323
To investigate the capability of neurite regeneration from retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in an adult human retina and to evaluate the effect of neurotrophin on the neurite regeneration, an in vitro model for retinal explants was developed. A human retina was obtained from a 70-year-old patient with retrobulbar carcinoma. The retina was excised and the retinal explants were cultured in serum-free medium with or without brain-derived neurotrophic factor. The capability of neurite regeneration was evaluated by counting the numbers of outgrowing neurites outside the retinal explants. In culture without brain-derived neurotrophic factor (control), there was no neurite outgrowth from the retinal explants after two days. And at three days in culture, a small number of outgrowing neurites were first observed outside the retinal explants. In contrast, within 24 hours in culture with brain-derived neurotrophic factor, there were a considerable number of elongating neurites with spread growth cones from the retinal explants. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that these neurites were derived from RGCs. The addition of brain-derived neurotrophic factor increased the number of outgrowing neurites approximately ten-fold compared to that of the control at three days in culture. The enhancement of neurite regeneration induced by brain-derived neurotrophic factor continued for longer than one week in culture. In conclusion, an aged human retina can regenerate neurites from RGCs in vitro and brain-derived neurotrophic factor significantly promotes the regeneration.
M. Takano, Department of Ophthalmology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
Classification:
4 Tissue culture of ocular cells
11.8 Neuroprotection (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
