Study summary · research use only
Inhibition of AMD-Like Pathology With a Neurotrophic Compound in Aged Rats and 3xTg-AD Mice
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
In this study of aged rats and 3xTg-AD mice, the effects of chronic treatment with the neurotrophic peptidergic compound P021 on age-associated macular degeneration (AMD)-like pathology were examined. The abstract reports photoreceptor degeneration, lipofuscin granules, vacuoles, and atrophy in the retinal pigment epithelium, Bruch's membrane thickening, and, in aged rats, rosette-like structure formation, along with microgliosis, astrogliosis, and widespread total tau, phosphorylated tau, Aβ/APP, and VEGF in the sub-retina. Chronic treatment with P021 for 3 months in rats and 18 months in 3xTg mice was associated with amelioration of these pathological changes. The authors describe these findings as indicating potential relevance of P021 to AMD and retinal changes associated with aging and Alzheimer's disease.
Abstract
Age-associated macular degeneration (AMD), which leads to loss of vision at its end stage, is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases among the elderly. However, to date, no effective drug therapy is available for the prevention of AMD. Here, we report the occurrence of AMD pathology and its prevention by chronic treatment with the neurotrophic peptidergic compound P021, in aged rats and 3xTg-AD mice. We found photoreceptor degeneration, lipofuscin granules, vacuoles, and atrophy in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) as well as Bruch's membrane (BM) thickening; in aged rats, we even found rosette-like structure formation. Microgliosis and astrogliosis were observed in different retinal layers. In addition, we also found that total tau, phosphorylated tau, Aβ/APP, and VEGF were widely distributed in the sub-retina of aged rats and 3xTg mice. Importantly, chronic treatment with P021 for 3 months in rats and for 18 months in 3xTg mice ameliorated the pathological changes above. These findings indicate the therapeutic potential of P021 for prevention and treatment of AMD and retinal changes associated with aging and Alzheimer's disease.
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