Study On The Role Of Lycium Barbarum Glycopeptide And Lutein In Model Mouse With Retinitis Pigmentosa

Purpose: Retinitis pigmentosa(RP)is a hereditary retinal disease caused by progressive degeneration of rod cells and then cone cells,which leads to complete vision loss.Our previous research showed that lycium barbarum polysaccharides extracted from lycium barbarum(or wolfberry)protected the structure and function of degenerated retina in RP mice model.Here we investigate whether lycium barbarum glycopeptide(Lb GP),another active component of LBP,rescues photoreceptors in rd10 mice,and if additionally adding lutein,a neuroprotective agent,could further delay the progress of photoreceptor cells death.Method: An equal volume of lutein(1,10,100,200 mg/kg body weight),or Lb GP(5,10,20 mg/kg body weight),or control vehicle was oral fed daily in rd10 mice from postnatal day17(P17)to p25(when apoptosis of rods reach peak).Visual behavior,electroretinogram and imunohistochemistry were applied to check the function and structure of retina after the treatment.After identifying the optimal dose of lutein and Lb GP,these two drugs were combined to treat rd10 mice.Result: Applying lutein or Lb GP alone significantly promoted the survival of photoreceptors in rd10 mice,with the best protective dose at 200mg/kg and 10mg/kg body weight respectively.In addition,lutein improved the visual performance and visual acuity of rd10 mice significantly.ERG responses were not significantly increased in lutein treated rd10 mice.Furthermore,immunofluorescence staining showed that rhodopsin expressed by rod cells and opsin expressed by cone cells in rd0 retina was significantly increased after the treatment of lutein.Additionally,the number of Müller glial cells and their dendr itic length marked by GFAP were significantly reduced.However,when we co-administrated lutein and Lb GP,there was no difference in the survival rate of photoreceptor cells between the treated group and the untreated group.Conclusion: Individual administration of lutein or Lb GP slows down the progress of degeneration in photoreceptors of rd10 mice,but there is no protective effect when using their combination,suggesting a possible antagonistic effect.