Sex-related differences in the progressive retinal degeneration of the rd10 mouse. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Baoqin; Gografe, Sylvia; Munchow, Alcira; Lopez-Toledano, Miguel; Pan, Zhuo-Hua; Shen, Wen
• Is Part Of: Experimental eye research. Volume 187(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: Sex difference -- Retinitis pigmentosa -- rd10 mouse -- Electroretinogram (ERG); Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; Eye -- Periodicals; Œil -- Périodiques; Ophthalmology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.8405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2019.107773
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-4835

Abstract

Abstract: The retinal degeneration 10 (rd10) mouse is a model of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a disease that causes blindness through the progressive loss of photoreceptors. This study shows evidence of sex-related differences in RP onset and progression in rd10 retinas. The disease onset was considerably earlier in the female rd10 mice than in the male rd10 mice, as evidenced by a loss of PDE6β proteins and rod-dominated electroretinogram (ERG) responses at an early age. Single photopic flash and flicker ERG responses and immunolabeling of opsin molecules were analyzed in both genders to assess the sex differences in the degeneration of cones in the RP retinas. The averaged amplitudes of cone-mediated ERG responses obtained from the females were significantly smaller than the amplitudes of the responses from the age-matched males in the late stages of the RP, suggesting that cones might degenerate faster in the female retinas as the disease progressed. The rapid degeneration of cones caused a more substantial decrease in the ERG responses derived from the On-pathway than the Off-pathway in the females. In addition, the male rd10 mice had heavier body weights than their female counterparts aged between postnatal (P)18 and P50 days. In summary, female rd10 mice were more susceptible to retinal degeneration, suggesting that the female sex might be a risk factor for RP. The results have important implications for future studies exploring potential sex-related differences in RP development and progression in the clinic. Highlights: This study quantified sex-related differences in the disease onset and progression in rd10 mice, the popular RP model. The female rd10 mice had an earlier onset of rod degeneration compared to their male counterparts. As the disease progressed, cones degenerated faster in the female rd10 retinas. Faster degeneration of cones in the female caused a more substantial decrease in the On-pathway mediated response. Our results suggest that female sex might be a risk factor for the disease.