Purpose
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a heterogeneous group of inherited retinal degenerations that lead to blindness and for which there is no effective therapy. Previous studies have shown the neuroprotective effect of cannabinoids on neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson and Alzheimer, between others. The objective of this study is to assess the therapeutic potential of the synthetic cannabinoid HU210 in the P23H rat model of RP.
Methods
P23H homozygous (line 3) male rats received HU210 (100 μg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle three times a week from P24 to P90. In these rats, visual function has been evaluated by electroretinographic (ERG) recording at P30, P60 and P90. Preservation of retinal structure has been assessed by immunohistochemistry at P90.
Results
ERG recordings showed an amelioration of vision loss in HU210-treated animals. Thus, the scotopic b-waves were significantly higher in treated animals than in control rats at P30, P60 and P90 (p<0.05, ANOVA). This attenuation of visual deterioration correlated with a delay in photoreceptor degeneration and the preservation of retinal cytoarchitecture.
Conclusions
The synthetic cannabinoid HU210 preserves retinal structure and function in the P23H rat. This work suggests that cannabinoids are potentially useful to delay retinal degeneration in retinitis pigmentosa.
Keywords: 615 neuroprotection •
702 retinitis •
510 electroretinography: non-clinical