ArticleGraefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie2003
Nerve growth factor (NGF) and lenses: effects of NGF in an in vitro rat model of cataract.
Article in Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie, 2003. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 14 citations in OpenAlex.
- Human nerve growth factor delivery to the retina: Quantitative methodology and mathematical modeling in preclinical settings.PNAS nexus · 2025Article
- 3D visualization of cellular and molecular distributions in human crystalline lenses at different ages.American journal of translational research · 2024Article
- Biomarker Signature in Aqueous Humor Mirrors Lens Epithelial Cell Activation: New Biomolecular Aspects from Cataractogenic Myopia.Biomolecules · 2023Article
- Nerve Growth Factor as an Ocular Therapy: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions.Seminars in ophthalmology · 2021Article
- Nerve Growth Factor: Early Studies and Recent Clinical Trials.Current neuropharmacology · 2018Review
- Imbalance of the Nerve Growth Factor and Its Precursor: Implication in Diabetic Retinopathy.Journal of clinical & experimental ophthalmology · 2015Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe aims of this study are to investigate the presence and production of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the rat lens in basal conditions and to evaluate, in vitro, the role of NGF in a model of xylose-induced cataract.
methodsRat lenses were dissected and the expression of NGF, NGF mRNA and high-affinity NGF-receptor (TrkA) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) and in-situ hybridization (ISH) techniques. To investigate the role of NGF in cataract formation we used an in vitro model of sugar-induced cataract by culturing rat lenses for 48 h in Eagle's minimum essential medium (MEM) supplemented with xylose. To evaluate the potential protective effect of NGF on xylose-induced cataract formation, exogenous NGF at different concentrations or antibodies neutralizing endogenous NGF (NGF-Ab) or aspecific antibodies were added to xylose-cultured lenses, and the following cataract-related parameters were evaluated and compared to xylose-treated lenses. Cataract formation was evaluated using three different parameters: staging of the cataract by lens photography, quantification of lens transparency in terms of gray level medium (GLM) and evaluation of the hydration percentage (H%) of the lens. To investigate the role of endogenous NGF in cataract onset, NGF levels were evaluated and compared in lenses cultured in xylose supplemented medium versus lenses cultured in control culture medium.
resultsThe epithelium from fresh rat lenses expresses NGF-receptor, NGF protein and NGF-mRNA. NGF levels in fresh lens were 54.0 +/- 24.5 pg/g as quantified by ELISA. Xylose-cultured lenses develop cataract changes, including a decrease of GLM and an increase in hydration percentage, associated with a decrease in NGF levels when compared to lenses cultured in the control culture medium. The addition of NGF to xylose-cultured lenses reduces cataract formation, increasing GLM and decreasing the hydration percentage as compared to xylose-treated lenses. On the other hand, the addition of NGF-Ab induces an increase in cataract formation and lens hydration.
conclusionsThis study demonstrates that rat lens epithelium expresses and synthesizes NGF. Moreover, immunohistochemistry shows that lens epithelial cells also express the NGF receptor. Although the functional significance of TrkA on lens epithelium is at present not clear, the expression of NGF and its high-affinity receptor on the same cells together with our experimental results suggest that NGF is involved in supporting trophism and/or the function of the lens epithelium.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.