Effect of neurotrophin-4 on endoplasmic reticulum stress-related neuronal apoptosis in diabetic and high glucose exposed rat retinas

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of NT-4 on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related apoptosis of retinal neurons of isolated retinas. The retinas were isolated from normal and diabetic rats, and the normal retinas were exposed to high glucose (HG). Our results showed that the number of TUNEL-positive, and PERK- and CHOP-positive cells was significantly higher in diabetic and HG exposed retinas than in normal retinas. In diabetic and HG exposed retinas supplemented with NT-4, the number of TUNEL-positive, and PERK- and CHOP-positive cells was significantly lower than in retinas without NT-4. The neuroprotective effect of NT-4 on retinas cultured under diabetic stress was correlated with the suppression in the expression of PERK and CHOP, ER stress-related factors.

► We investigated the effect of NT-4 on the ER stress-related apoptosis of retinal neurons of isolated retinas. ► The number of TUNEL-positive, and PERK- and CHOP-positive cells was significantly higher in diabetic and HG exposed retinas than in normal retinas. ► In diabetic and HG exposed retinas supplemented with NT-4, the number of TUNEL-positive, and PERK- and CHOP-positive cells was significantly lower than in retinas without NT-4. ► The neuroprotective effect of NT-4 was correlated with the suppression of the ER stress-related factors, PERK and CHOP expression.