PACAP application improves functional outcome of chronic retinal ischemic injury in rats-evidence from electroretinographic measurements

Retinoprotective effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) are well-known and have been demonstrated in various pathological conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy, excitotoxic retinal injury, UV light-induced degeneration, and ischemic retinal lesion. The neuronal degeneration observed in the different retinal layers under the above pathological conditions can be successfully decreased by PACAP; however, whether this morphological improvement is also reflected in functional amelioration remains unknown. Therefore, our purpose was to investigate the protective effect of PACAP on the rat retina after bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) with electroretinography (ERG) to parallel the functional data with the previous morphological and neurochemical observations. Control eyes received saline treatment while PACAP was injected into the vitreous space of the other eye immediately after the induction of ischemia. Retinal damage and protective effects of PACAP were quantified by the changes in the wave forms and amplitudes. On postoperative days 2 and 14, several parameters were assessed with special attention to the changes of b wave. The results confirm that the previously described morphological protection induced by PACAP treatment is reflected in functional improvement in ischemic retinal lesions.