Intranasal BDNF administration promotes visual function recovery in adult amblyopic rats. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sansevero, Gabriele; Baroncelli, Laura; Scali, Manuela; Sale, Alessandro
• Is Part Of: Neuropharmacology. Volume 145(2019)Part A
• Page Start: 114
• Page End: 122
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Amblyopia -- Visual cortex -- Plasticity -- Stereopsis -- BDNF; Neuropsychopharmacology -- Periodicals; Autonomic Agents -- Periodicals; Neuropsychopharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neuropsychopharmacology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 615.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.02.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3908

Abstract

Abstract: Amblyopia is the most common cause of visual impairment in one eye, with a prevalence of 1–5% in the world population. While amblyopia can be efficiently treated in children, it becomes irreversible in adults, due to the decline in neural plasticity past the end of the visual cortex critical period. Accordingly, no pharmacological approaches are available to rescue visual functions in adult amblyopic subjects. We report that non-invasive intranasal infusion of BDNF increased levels of this neurotrophic factor in V1 and induced a recovery of visual acuity, ocular dominance and visual depth perception in adult amblyopic rats, both in reverse-occluded animals and in those with unrestricted binocular sight. Visual recovery was long-lasting, and was prevented by pharmacological blockade of TrkB signaling in the visual cortex. These results underscore the possibility to replace invasive BDNF central administration with a safe procedure of potential interest in a number of currently still cureless central nervous system pathologies. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled "Neurobiology of Environmental Enrichment". Highlights: Intranasal BDNF rescues visual acuity in adult amblyopic rats. Intranasal BDNF induces recovery of visual depth perception abilities in amblyopic rats. BDNF-induced rescue is present both with reverse occlusion and normal binocular sight. The beneficial effects of BDNF are prevented by blockade of TrkB signaling in V1.