EN
Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neurotrophic and neuroprotective peptide that has been shown to exert protective effects in different neuronal injuries, models of neurodegenerative diseases and cerebral ischemia. PACAP and its receptors are present in the retina. PACAP is neuroprotective in several models of retinal degeneration in vitro and in vivo. In the present study we summarize the protective effects found with intravitreal PACAP treatment in the following models of retinal degeneration in rats: (1) toxic injury induced by monosodium glutamate (MSG) treatment; (2) ischemic injury (BCCAO) and (3) degeneration induced by different kind of UV-A light. MSG leads to the severe degeneration of the inner retinal layers. BCCAO cause degeneration in all retinal layers. UV-A exposure leads to a severe damage of the outer layers of the retina. In all cases, intravitreal PACAP injection (100 pmol) was administered into one (right) eye, while the other eye (left) received saline treatment, serving as control retinas. Histological and immunocytochemical analysis of the retinas showed that PACAP treatment signifi cantly ameliorated the damaging effects of all treatments. These results provide the basis for future clinical application of PACAP treatment in retinal degeneration. Support: OTKA: K72592; F67830; 78480; T061766; Gedeon Richter Ltd.