Victoria Edelshtain (1), Ifat Sher (1), Adi Tzameret (1), Dror Harats (2), Aviv Shaish (2), Ygal Rotenstreich (1)
( 1 ) Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Sheba Medical Center, (2) The Bert W. Strassburger Lipid Center, Sheba Medical Center
המחקר הוצג בכינוס השנתי ה-36 של האגודה הישראלית לחקר העין והראייה, שהתקיים בכפר המכבייה ב-9-10 במרץ 2016
Purpose: To examine the therapeutic effect of oral treatment with 9-cis β-carotene rich alga Dunaliella bardawil on retinal function and structure in Rpe65rd12 mice, a model of genetic defect in retinoid cycle.
Methods: Thirteen RPE65rd12 mice at age of 28 days were fed with Teklad Global 18% Protein Rodent Diet (control diet), vitamin A deficient diet (VAD) or VAD diet supplemented with powder of 9-cis β-carotene rich Dunaliella bardawil alga (DUNA, 8% w/w) for 14 months. Retinal function was recorded once a month in both eyes simultaneously by electroretinograph (ERG). Histological analysis and immunofluorescence staining with anti- M opsin antibody were used to determine retinal structure.
Results: At 14 months, mice fed with DUNA presented significantly higher maximal a-wave compared with mice fed with VAD or control diet (30V [SE=5] vs. 5 V [SE=3] p=0.006 and vs. 3 V [SE=2] p=0.007, respectively) and significantly higher maximal b-wave compared with mice fed control diet (82V [SE=8] vs. 30 V [SE=10] p=0.002). These results are associated with histological analysis revealing increased number of M-opsins in retina of mice treated with DUNA.
Conclusions: Long term oral treatment with Dunaliella bardawil powder rich in 9-cis β-carotene preserves retinal function and rescues M-cones from degeneration in Rpe65rd12 mice. Our findings suggest that 9-cis β-carotene may possibly be an effective treatment for retinal dystrophies involving the retinoid cycle.