Spermidine Oxidation-Mediated Degeneration of Retinal Pigment Epithelium in Rats

Figure 8

Protective effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) on spermidine-induced degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors in rats. Cross-sections of rat eyes were prepared 13 days after the intravitreal injection of (a, b) spermidine (20 nmol/eye) alone, (c, d) spermidine (20 nmol/eye) plus NAC (500 nmol/eye), and (e, f) spermidine (20 nmol/eye) plus ALDH (1.5 U/eye). Black and white scale bars indicate 50 and 20 μm, respectively. NFL-GCL: nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer. IPL: inner plexiform layer. INL: inner nuclear layer. OPL: outer plexiform layer. ONL: outer nuclear layer. IS-OS-RPE: inner segment, outer segment, and retinal pigment epithelium. C: choroid.

(a) Spermidine-1

(b) Spermidine-2

(c) Spermidine + NAC-1

(d) Spermidine + NAC-2

(e) Spermidine + ALDH-1

(f) Spermidine + ALDH-2