April 2010
Volume 51, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2010
Constituents of Bile, Bilirubin and TUDCA, Protect Against Retinal Degeneration
B. C. Oveson; S. F. Hackett; T. Iwase; S. Lee; T. W. Sedlak; S. H. Snyder; P. A. Campochiaro; J. U. Sung
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • B. C. Oveson
    Ophthalmology,
    Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Inst, Baltimore, Maryland
  • S. F. Hackett
    Ophthalmology,
    Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Inst, Baltimore, Maryland
  • T. Iwase
    Ophthalmology,
    Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Inst, Baltimore, Maryland
  • S. Lee
    Ophthalmology,
    Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Inst, Baltimore, Maryland
  • T. W. Sedlak
    Neuroscience,
    Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Inst, Baltimore, Maryland
  • S. H. Snyder
    Neuroscience,
    Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Inst, Baltimore, Maryland
  • P. A. Campochiaro
    Ophthalmology,
    Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Inst, Baltimore, Maryland
  • J. U. Sung
    Ophthalmology,
    Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Inst, Baltimore, Maryland
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  B.C. Oveson, None; S.F. Hackett, None; T. Iwase, None; S. Lee, None; T.W. Sedlak, None; S.H. Snyder, None; P.A. Campochiaro, None; J.U. Sung, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  NIH Grant EY015025-03, FFB Grant C-NP-0707-0419-JHU05, Knights Templar Eye Foundation
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2010, Vol.51, 3732. doi:
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      B. C. Oveson, S. F. Hackett, T. Iwase, S. Lee, T. W. Sedlak, S. H. Snyder, P. A. Campochiaro, J. U. Sung; Constituents of Bile, Bilirubin and TUDCA, Protect Against Retinal Degeneration. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2010;51(13):3732.

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Abstract

Purpose: : To assess the effects of bilirubin, a physiologic cytoprotectant, and tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) in the rd10+/+ mice and mice with light-induced retinal degeneration.

Methods: : Subcutaneous injections of bilirubin or TUDCA were administered to rd10+/+ mice every three days from postnatal day (P) 6 to P49. Retinal function was assessed by scotopic and photopic electroretinograms (ERGs) at P30 and P50. Photoreceptor cell survival was assessed by measuring cell density of peanut-agglutinin-stained retinal whole mounts and outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness. Albino BALB/c mice were injected 24 hours and 1 hour before exposure to 8 hours of light at an intensity of 5,000 lux. Photoreceptor survival was assessed by scotopic and photopic ERGs taken 24 hours and 7 days after light exposure.

Results: : At P30, bilirubin- (n=10) and TUDCA-treated rd10+/+ mice (n=6) showed higher (P<0.02) peak mean scotopic ERG (µV) a-wave amplitudes (76+4 and 76+2, respectively) compared to vehicle-treated littermates (52+4 and 45+5). Mean scotopic b-wave amplitudes for bilirubin (377+33) and TUDCA (367+30) groups were also higher (P<0.05) compared to vehicle-treated littermates (193+45 and 267+28, respectively). Mean photopic b-wave amplitudes for bilirubin- (242+19) and TUDCA-treated mice (254+22) were greater (P<0.01) than those in vehicle-treated littermates (148+23 and 131+19). ONL thickness measurements were greater (P<0.05) at three out of the six measurement locations in the bilirubin group, and at four out of six locations in the TUDCA group. At P50, bilirubin- (n=9) and TUDCA-treated rd10+/+ mice (n=8) showed higher (P<0.05) peak mean photopic b-wave amplitudes (55+8 and 83+15) compared to untreated littermates (26+3). Mean cone cell density (cones/0.0529 mm2) was greater for bilirubin-treated rd10+/+ (215+30), and TUDCA-treated rd10+/+ (278+21) compared to untreated rd10+/+ (93+13). Light-exposed BALB/c mice treated with bilirubin or TUDCA showed significant preservation of ERG function compared to untreated mice.

Conclusions: : Treatment with bilirubin or TUDCA effectively slowed photoreceptor degeneration in rd10+/+ mice through P50 and reduced light-induced photoreceptor death in BALB/c mice.

Keywords: retinal degenerations: hereditary • retina • photoreceptors 
© 2010, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
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