Non-mitogenic human acidic fibroblast growth factor reduces retinal degeneration induced by sodium iodate.

Purpose: To investigate the protective effects of non-mitogenic human acidic fibroblast growth factor on retinal degeneration induced by NaIO(3) in rats.

Methods: Retinal degeneration was induced in adult male Wistar rats via caudal-vein injection of 1% NaIO(3) at 50 mg/kg. One h after NaIO(3) treatment, the right eyes received intravitreal injection of 2.5 microg nm-haFGF in 10 microL saline and the left eyes received saline alone as vehicle-treated eyes. Retinal function in rats was evaluated by electroretinogram (ERG) before injection and 1, 7, and 21 days postinjection. Additional rat eyes were enucleated 7 and 21 days postinjection, fixed, and processed for histological examination.

Results: A model of retinal degeneration in rat was established successfully using NaIO(3) injection. Significant decreases in both ERG a- and b-wave amplitudes were detected in NaIO(3)-injected rats when compared with the normal animals (P < 0.05) on day 7 postinjection. Importantly, at the seventh day after intravitreal nm-haFGF treatment on NaIO(3)-injected rats, the nm-haFGF-treated eyes showed a significant improvement in the ERG amplitudes of both a- and b-waves when compared with vehicle-treated eyes (P < 0.05). In addition, the disruptions of photoreceptor outer segments and the retinal pigment epithelium monolayer were much less frequently observed in the nm-haFGF-treated eyes than the vehicle-treated eyes, and the outer nuclear layer thickness in the nm-haFGF-treated eyes was similar to that of the normal eyes.

Conclusions: Intravitreal delivery of nm-haFGF appears to have neuroprotective effect on retinal degeneration induced by NaIO(3).