Abstract
Purpose: :
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects photoreceptors and cause blindness in humans. In previously studies we have shown that the decrease of GSH is related to photoreceptor cell death. The purpose of this study was to investigate the glutathione metabolism in the retina of control and rd1 mice, characterizing the time sequence of changes of GSH, GSSG, Cys, Cyss and Glutamate.
Methods: :
Animals were treated in accordance to the ARVO statement for the use of animals in ophthalmic and vision research. We obtained retinas from wild type and rd1 mice at different postnatal days (PN3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 28, 33 and 50), and levels of GSH, GSSG, Cyss, Cys and Glutamate were determinated by HPLC (Gilson, detector UV, ViS 156) with the method of Reed et al. 1981.
Results: :
We have found a gradual increase in free Glutamate levels in retinas of rd1 mice in comparison with wild type mice. Also we have observed a reduction of GSH levels in rd1 and wild type retinas with age. GSH levels vary upon age in rd1 and wild type mice retinas, as well as specific differences between the different thiol-containing substrates studied.
Conclusions: :
Further studies are need to confirm the importance of thiol metabolism in Retinitis Pigmentosa and other retinal degenerations.
Keywords: oxidation/oxidative or free radical damage • retinal degenerations: hereditary • retina