[The neuroprotection of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in experimental retinal detachment reattached]

To investigate the effect of exogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on the retinal repair after experimental retinal detachment (RD) reattached.

Experimental study. Forty-eight normal rats were randomly divided into four groups:BDNF group, control group, RD reattached group and normal group. In order to detect the effects of BDNF on retinal degeneration caused by RD, the morphology of retina and the ultrastructure of retinal cells were observed by light microscopy and electron microscopy. The effect of BDNF on the apoptosis of retinal cells after RD reattached was detected by Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) technique. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and secondary analysis for significance with independent-samples t-test.

The average automatically reattached time was (31.3 ± 3.5) days. Compared with control group, there were less damage in out segment and inner segment, more retinal cells in outer nuclear layer (ONL) and inner nuclear layer (INL), thicker ONL of retina and better organizational structure of retina in BDNF group. The average thickness of ONL and INL of retina were (21.166 ± 3.087) µm, (23.508 ± 3.679) µm respectively in BDNF group, and (16.084 ± 2.928) µm, (12.885 ± 3.070) µm respectively in control group. The thickness of ONL and INL of retina showed a significant difference in BDNF group compared with control (P < 0.01). There were less TUNEL-positive cells in ONL of retina in BDNF group compared with control.

This study indicates that the morphology of retina and the ultrastructure of retinal cells have changed, and the apoptosis of retinal cells are present after RD reattached. Exogenous BDNF can reduce retinal cells degeneration and inhibit the apoptosis of retinal cells and have a certain protection effects on the retinal damage caused by RD.