Spermidine Oxidation-Mediated Degeneration of Retinal Pigment Epithelium in Rats

Figure 7

Protective effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) on spermidine-induced impairment of electroretinogram (ERG) a- and b-wave amplitudes. Representative traces are shown of scotopic ERG a- and b-waves measured 13 days after the administration of (a) control, (b) spermidine (20 nmol/eye) alone, (c) spermidine (20 nmol/eye) plus NAC (500 nmol/eye), and (d) spermidine (20 nmol/eye) plus ALDH (1.5 U/eye). The amplitude data for ERG a- and b-waves, from eyes treated as above are depicted in (e) and (f), respectively. Each column represents the mean ± standard error of the mean of seven to eight eyes. ^## versus control and versus spermidine (20 nmol/eye).

(a) Control

(b) Spermidine

(c) Spermidine + NAC

(d) Spermidine + ALDH

(e) ERG a-wave

(f) ERG b-wave