Neuroprotective Effects Of Venom Nerve Growth Factor On Cultured Rat Retinal Ganglion Cells

Objective:To study the neuroprotective effects of venom nerve growth factor(vNGF)on survival and regeneration of cultured rat retinal ganglion cells(RGCs).Methods:Neonatal rat retinal neurons were cocultured with various concentration(10ng/ml to 140 ng/ml)of vNGF to gain the.MTT chromatometry was used to assess the viability of retinal neurons.Then choose the most efficient concentration,and culture cells with the concentration.which is experimental group.RGCs were first identified immunocytochemically with antibody against Thy-1.1.Then the survival time of RGCs,the number of RGCs,axonal length and Soma diameters of RGCs were compared with experimental group and control group under microscope.Results:The most efficient concentration of vNGF is 80ng/ml.RGCs could survival for 13-14 days in DMEM containing vNGF,The RGCs could survival for 7-8 days in DMEM without vNGF.The axonal length of RGCs in experimental group and in the control were respectively 111.78±10.65μm and 78.73±8.23μm.The number of RGCs in experimental group and in the control were respectively 224.65±3.36 and 182.47±2.79.The differences between experimental group and control group were significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion:vNGF can enhance the viability of retinal neurons and ganglion cells and promote the survival and regeneration of RGCs in vitro.