The effect of neuregulin-1 on endoplasmic reticulum stress in a mouse model of retinal degeneration

Introducton: Neuregulin-1 is an agent reduces ER stress. Researches have been shown that ER stress causes among the reasons for the development of retinal diseases with limited treatment approaches. In this study, we aimed to investigate the suppression of ER stress as one of the causes of retinal degeneration with Neuregulin-1 and its effect on the pathogenesis of retinal degeneration with morphological and immunohistochemical studies. In that point of view, we objected to have an opinion about the effect of Neuregulin-1 on both prophylaxis and treatment in retinal diseases originating from ER stress. Materials and Methods: 6-8 weeks old male mouse of BALB/c were used. N-methyl-N (nitrosourea (MNU) intraperitoneal (IP) MNU was applied as single döşe (60mg/kg with in body weight) by intraperitonealy. Just before the MNU application it was dilueted in saline and injected to rats. For treatment group; mice was injected with Neuregulin-1 intraperitoneal (IP) at a dose of 0.6mg/kg/day for body weight. First day of MNU injection, it was accepted as day 0 and treatment was continued daily with one dose of Neuregulin and retinal dissection was performed on the 3rd and 7th days. Samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and investigated on light microscope. GRP78-CHOP Cleaved Caspase 3 protein expression was evaluated in group of immunfluorescence and retina samples. TUNEL method used as a marker of cell death. Results: MNU-induced retinal degeneration-induced mouse models showed a reduction in ERS proteins (GRP78-CHOP-Cleaved Caspase 3) with NRG-1 treatment. According to the TUNEL results, the number of TUNEL-positive cells were decreased in NRG-1 injected groups. Conclusion: MMNU-induced retinal degeneration showed retention of ERS and increased cell survival in retina cells.