May 2007
Volume 48, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2007
The Neuropeptide NAP Provides Neuroprotection of Retinal Ganglion Cells After Optic Nerve Crush and Retinal Ischemia in vivo
J. Lasseck; C. Dimitriu; T. Jehle; M. Vidal-Sanz; I. Gozes; W. A. Lagreze
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • J. Lasseck
    University Eye Hospital Freiburg, Germany, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
  • C. Dimitriu
    University Eye Hospital Freiburg, Germany, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
  • T. Jehle
    University Eye Hospital Freiburg, Germany, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
  • M. Vidal-Sanz
    Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Spain, Murcia, Spain
  • I. Gozes
    Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Tel Aviv University, Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv, Israel
  • W. A. Lagreze
    University Eye Hospital Freiburg, Germany, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships J. Lasseck, None; C. Dimitriu, None; T. Jehle, None; M. Vidal-Sanz, None; I. Gozes, None; W.A. Lagreze, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support This work was supported by a grant of the Berta and Ernst Grimmke-Stiftung and the Forschungskommision of the University of Freiburg
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2007, Vol.48, 565. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      User Alerts
      You are adding an alert for:
      The Neuropeptide NAP Provides Neuroprotection of Retinal Ganglion Cells After Optic Nerve Crush and Retinal Ischemia in vivo
      You will receive an email whenever this article is corrected, updated, or cited in the literature. You can manage this and all other alerts in My Account
      The alert will be sent to:
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation
      Citation

      J. Lasseck, C. Dimitriu, T. Jehle, M. Vidal-Sanz, I. Gozes, W. A. Lagreze; The Neuropeptide NAP Provides Neuroprotection of Retinal Ganglion Cells After Optic Nerve Crush and Retinal Ischemia in vivo . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2007;48(13):565.

      Download citation file:

      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
    • Get Permissions
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose:: The axons of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are directly affected by optic nerve trauma, stroke and glaucoma. NAP, an 8-amino acid peptide (NAPVSIPQ=Asn-Ala-Pro-Val-Ser-Ile-Pro-Gln) derived from activity-dependent neuroprotective protein, plays an important role for neuronal differentiation and the survival of neurons in different pathological situations. We previously found that NAP increases the survival of RGCs in vitro and supports neurite outgrowth in retinal explants at femtomolar concentrations. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of NAP on RGC survival after optic nerve crush and transient retinal ischemia in adult rats.

Methods:: RGCs of male wistar rats were labeled retrogradely with FluoroGold injected stereotactically in both superior colliculi. Seven days later the optic nerve was crushed approximately 2 mm behind the eye for 10 seconds or retinal ischemia was induced by elevation of intraocular pressure to 120 mm Hg for 60 minutes. NAP (100µg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally one day before, direct after and on the first and the second day after the damage. The controls received the same concentration of a scrambled peptide, respectively. Densities of surviving RGCs and activated glia cells (AGCs) were quantificated ten days after damage by counting FluoroGold labeled cells in retinal whole mounts.

Results:: After retinal ischemia the number of surviving RGCs was increased up to 40.2% (p<0.005) compared to controls due to the intraperitoneal administration of NAP. AGCs were decreased by 45.5% (p<0.0005), respectively. After optic nerve crush, NAP increased the number of surviving RGCs by 30.6% (p=0.07), whereas the number of AGCs was decreased by 29.1% (p<0.0001). The number of RGCs and AGCs did show a significant correlation of -0,847 (p<0,0001).

Conclusions:: Intraperitoneal administration of the neuropeptide NAP supplies neuronal protection after optic nerve crush and retinal ischemia in vivo. These findings may help to find new therapeutic strategies since optic nerve diseases pose a major clinical problem and most of them cannot yet be treated successfully.

Keywords: neuropeptides • ganglion cells • cell survival 
© 2007, 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 © 2024 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.Accept