scholarly journals Management of Ocular Diseases Using Lutein and Zeaxanthin: What Have We Learned from Experimental Animal Studies?

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunyan Xue ◽  
Richard Rosen ◽  
Adrienne Jordan ◽  
Dan-Ning Hu
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Experimental Animal ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Radical Scavenging ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Ocular Tissues ◽  
Light Reduction ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Therapeutic Procedures

Zeaxanthin and lutein are two carotenoid pigments that concentrated in the retina, especially in the macula. The effects of lutein and zeaxanthin on the prevention and treatment of various eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and cataract, ischemic/hypoxia induced retinopathy, light damage of the retina, retinitis pigmentosa, retinal detachment, and uveitis, have been studied in different experimental animal models. In these animal models, lutein and zeaxanthin have been reported to have beneficial effects in protecting ocular tissues and cells (especially the retinal neurons) against damage caused by different etiological factors. The mechanisms responsible for these effects of lutein and zeaxanthin include prevention of phototoxic damage by absorption of blue light, reduction of oxidative stress through antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging, and their anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenic properties. The results of these experimental animal studies may provide new preventive and therapeutic procedures for clinical management of various vision-threatening diseases.

scholarly journals Botanical Compounds: Effects on Major Eye Diseases

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuan-Phat Huynh ◽  
Shivani N. Mann ◽  
Nawajes A. Mandal
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Retinitis Pigmentosa ◽  
Cell Cultures ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Eye Diseases ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Ocular Diseases ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Age Related

Botanical compounds have been widely used throughout history as cures for various diseases and ailments. Many of these compounds exhibit strong antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. These are also common damaging mechanisms apparent in several ocular diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataract, and retinitis pigmentosa. In recent years, there have been many epidemiological and clinical studies that have demonstrated the beneficial effects of plant-derived compounds, such as curcumin, lutein and zeaxanthin, danshen, ginseng, and many more, on these ocular pathologies. Studies in cell cultures and animal models showed promising results for their uses in eye diseases. While there are many apparent significant correlations, further investigation is needed to uncover the mechanistic pathways of these botanical compounds in order to reach widespread pharmaceutical use and provide noninvasive alternatives for prevention and treatments of the major eye diseases.

scholarly journals Contaminants in Fish: Risk-Benefit Considerations

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucio Costa
Keyword(s):  
Fish Consumption ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Regulatory Agencies ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Human Intoxication

Contaminants in Fish: Risk-Benefit ConsiderationsFish provide a healthful source of dietary protein and are high in nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids. There is evidence of beneficial effects of fish consumption in coronary heart disease, stroke, age-related macular degeneration, and growth and development. Yet, benefits may be offset by the presence of contaminants, such as methylmercury (MeHg), dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and several other halogenated persistent organic pollutants. MeHg is a known developmental neurotoxicant, as evidenced by several animal studies and episodes of human intoxication in Japan and Iraq. Fish represent the main source of exposure to MeHg for the general population, and large predatory fish (swordfish, tuna) have the highest levels of MeHg contamination. Provisional tolerable weekly intakes of 0.7 μg kg-1 to 1.6 μg kg-1 have been set by regulatory agencies. Concern for contamination of fish with dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs stems from their reported carcinogenicity, immunotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicities. Farmed and wild-caught fish appear to have similar levels of contaminants. Advisories are in place that recommend limited consumption of certain fish in children, pregnant women and women of childbearing age. Careful risk-benefit considerations should foster fish consumption while minimizing exposure to toxic contaminants.

scholarly journals The Impact of Oxidative Stress on Blood-Retinal Barrier Physiology in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Annamaria Tisi ◽  
Marco Feligioni ◽  
Maurizio Passacantando ◽  
Marco Ciancaglini ◽  
Rita Maccarone
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Blood Retinal Barrier ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Impact

The blood retinal barrier (BRB) is a fundamental eye component, whose function is to select the flow of molecules from the blood to the retina and vice-versa, and its integrity allows the maintenance of a finely regulated microenvironment. The outer BRB, composed by the choriocapillaris, the Bruch’s membrane, and the retinal pigment epithelium, undergoes structural and functional changes in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness worldwide. BRB alterations lead to retinal dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Several risk factors have been associated with AMD onset in the past decades and oxidative stress is widely recognized as a key factor, even if the exact AMD pathophysiology has not been exactly elucidated yet. The present review describes the BRB physiology, the BRB changes occurring in AMD, the role of oxidative stress in AMD with a focus on the outer BRB structures. Moreover, we propose the use of cerium oxide nanoparticles as a new powerful anti-oxidant agent to combat AMD, based on the relevant existing data which demonstrated their beneficial effects in protecting the outer BRB in animal models of AMD.

scholarly journals Studying Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using Animal Models

2014 ◽  
Vol 91 (8) ◽  
pp. 878-886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica L. Fletcher ◽  
Andrew I. Jobling ◽  
Ursula Greferath ◽  
Samuel A. Mills ◽  
Michelle Waugh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related

Intracerebral Neuronal Grafting in Experimental Animal Models of Age-related Motor Dysfunction

1988 ◽  
Vol 515 (1 Central Deter) ◽  
pp. 383-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. H. GAGE ◽  
P. BRUNDIN ◽  
R. STRECKER ◽  
S. B. DUNNETT ◽  
O. ISACSON ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Experimental Animal ◽  
Motor Dysfunction ◽  
Experimental Animal Models ◽  
Age Related

scholarly journals Central Role of Oxidative Stress in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Evidence from a Review of the Molecular Mechanisms and Animal Models

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Abokyi ◽  
Chi-Ho To ◽  
Tim T. Lam ◽  
Dennis Y. Tse
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Related Factor ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of visual impairment in the elderly. There are very limited therapeutic options for AMD with the predominant therapies targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the retina of patients afflicted with wet AMD. Hence, it is important to remind readers, especially those interested in AMD, about current studies that may help to develop novel therapies for other stages of AMD. This study, therefore, provides a comprehensive review of studies on human specimens as well as rodent models of the disease, to identify and analyze the molecular mechanisms behind AMD development and progression. The evaluation of this information highlights the central role that oxidative damage in the retina plays in contributing to major pathways, including inflammation and angiogenesis, found in the AMD phenotype. Following on the debate of oxidative stress as the earliest injury in the AMD pathogenesis, we demonstrated how the targeting of oxidative stress-associated pathways, such as autophagy and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling, might be the futuristic direction to explore in the search of an effective treatment for AMD, as the dysregulation of these mechanisms is crucial to oxidative injury in the retina. In addition, animal models of AMD have been discussed in great detail, with their strengths and pitfalls included, to assist inform in the selection of suitable models for investigating any of the molecular mechanisms.

scholarly journals KUS121, an ATP regulator, mitigates chorioretinal pathologies in animal models of age-related macular degeneration

Heliyon ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. e00624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuki Muraoka ◽  
Yuto Iida ◽  
Hanako O. Ikeda ◽  
Sachiko Iwai ◽  
Masayuki Hata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related

scholarly journals Clinical Pathological Features and Current Animal Models of Type 3 Macular Neovascularization

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Qiang ◽  
Ran Wei ◽  
Yongjiang Chen ◽  
Danian Chen
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Multimodal Imaging ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Distinct Type ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Pathological Features ◽  
Knockout Mouse Model ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Type 3 ◽  
Insight Into

Type 3 macular neovascularization (MNV3), or retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP), is a distinct type of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is a leading cause of vision loss in older persons. During the past decade, systematic investigation into the clinical, multimodal imaging, and histopathological features and therapeutic outcomes has provided important new insight into this disease. These studies favor the retinal origin of MNV3 and suggest the involvement of retinal hypoxia, inflammation, von Hippel–Lindau (VHL)–hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway, and multiple cell types in the development and progression of MNV3. Several mouse models, including the recently built Rb/p107/Vhl triple knockout mouse model by our group, have induced many of the histological features of MNV3 and provided much insight into the underlying pathological mechanisms. These models have revealed the roles of retinal hypoxia, inflammation, lipid metabolism, VHL/HIF pathway, and retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (Rb)–E2F cell cycle pathway in the development of MNV3. This article will summarize the clinical, multimodal imaging, and pathological features of MNV3 and the diversity of animal models that exist for MNV3, as well as their strengths and limitations.

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