NEAR-UV LIGHT AND RETINAL DEGENERATION AND AGING

人们越来越担心暴露在紫外光下，在 太阳辐射，可能与眼部疾病的病因学有关 为老年性黄斑变性。然而，有一个不完整的 了解光应激导致视网膜病变的机制 病理学。这项拟议的研究将调查近距离辐射的作用。 紫外线会导致视网膜退化和老化。近期 我们实验室的研究结果表明，有色素的大鼠是一种合适的 近紫外光毒性研究的实验动物 视网膜。主要使用大鼠模型，在某些情况下使用兔子， 实验是专门设计用来表征近紫外线的 亚灵长类哺乳动物的轻微视网膜损伤及其与 在这些物种中众所周知的视网膜损伤形式，是由绿色 光(即视紫红质介导的损伤)；2)评估各种 内源性发色团在调节或影响近紫外线中的作用 视网膜损伤；3)检查脂质过氧化的可能参与 近紫外线视网膜毒性的生化病因学；4)检查 近紫外光应激对视网膜衰老的影响 评估不同可见光波段的相对贡献率 引起视网膜病变的手术显微镜光产生。一个 这些研究将采用定量、多学科的方法。 使用视网膜电信号、形态测量和各种生化方法 技巧。 拟议研究的目的是对以下问题进行深入分析 近紫外光导致视网膜病变的机制。 从这些研究中获得的信息可能有助于预测 易使视网膜受到近紫外线损伤的条件 制定预防和管理光诱导视网膜的策略 疾病。

There is increasing concern that exposure to ultraviolet light, found in solar radiation, may be involved in the etiology of ocular disorders such as age-related macular degeneration. There is, however, an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms by which light stress leads to retinal pathology. The proposed research will investigate the role of near- ultraviolet light in causing retinal degeneration and aging. Recent findings in our laboratory have established pigmented rats as a suitable experimental animal for studying near-ultraviolet light toxicity of the retina. Using primarily the rat model and in some cases rabbits, experiments are specifically designed to 2) characterize near-ultraviolet light retinal damage in sub-primate mammals and distinguish it from the well-known form of retinal damage in these species that is caused by green light (i.e. rhodopsin-mediated damage); 2) evaluate the role of various endogenous chromophores in mediating or influencing near-ultraviolet retinal damage; 3) examine the possible involvement of lipid peroxidation in the biochemical etiology of near-UV retinal toxicity; 4) examine the influence of near-ultraviolet light stress on retinal aging; and 5) evaluate the relative contribution of different visible wavelength bands in causing retinal lesions produced by operating microscope light. A quantitative, multidisciplinary approach will be applied to these studies using electroretinographic, morphometric and various biochemical techniques. The intention of the proposed studies is to provide an in-depth analysis of the mechanisms by which near-ultraviolet light leads to retinal pathology. The information obtained from these studies could help to predict the conditions predisposing the retinal to near-ultraviolet damage and to devise strategies for preventing and managing photically-induced retinal disease.