Ropinirole Prevents Light-Induced Retinal Photoreceptor Damage in Mice

抄録

Photoreceptor cell death leads to blindness in dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients. However, no current therapy exists to treat drug for dry AMD patients. Here, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of ropinirole, a dopamine agonist used to treat Parkinson’s disease, in vitro and in vivo murine dry AMD models. Ropinirole prevented photoreceptor cell death induced by excessive light exposure in vitro. Next, we exposed mice to intensive white fluorescent light, performed morphological analysis of the outer nuclear layer (ONL), and examined electroretinogram (ERG) recordings. Although light exposure reduced ONL thickness and ERG amplitudes, the oral administration of ropinirole improved ONL thickness and a- and b-wave amplitudes, similar to pramipexole treatment. Furthermore, the continuous administration of ropinirole using an osmotic pump attenuated the decrease in retinal thickness induced by chronic light exposure. These findings indicated that ropinirole represents a novel candidate drug for dry AMD treatment.