The Role Of Purines In Photoreceptor Death During Retinal Degeneration.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,729.00
Summary
Abnormalities in cells at the back of the eye called photoreceptors are associated with at least 50% of all cases of blindness in this country.This project will determine whether substances released from dying photoreceptors cause the death of neighbouring cells. In addition we will examine whether treatments that block the actions of these released substances can prevent the death of photoreceptors, thereby providing a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of devastating eye diseases.
Molecular Mechanisms Of Photoreceptor Protection In Rat Models Of Degenerative Retinal Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$277,480.00
Summary
The photoreceptor cells of the eye (rods and cones) are the cornerstones of vision. Without them the complex and rich sense of vision fades into blindness. In 1 person in 4-5,000 - about 5,000 Australians and 1-2 million people world-wide - these cells degenerate spontaneously. The condition which results is known as retinitis pigmentosa (RP); it causes progesses blindness, most often affecting young adults. Despite recent advances in research, there is still no effective cure. The present work ....The photoreceptor cells of the eye (rods and cones) are the cornerstones of vision. Without them the complex and rich sense of vision fades into blindness. In 1 person in 4-5,000 - about 5,000 Australians and 1-2 million people world-wide - these cells degenerate spontaneously. The condition which results is known as retinitis pigmentosa (RP); it causes progesses blindness, most often affecting young adults. Despite recent advances in research, there is still no effective cure. The present work will explore the environmental factors which determine whether photoreceptors last the lifetime of the individual, or die prematurely. The factors which cause their premature death include genetic mutations but also include environmental factors, including the oxygen status of the retina, the brightness of light experienced and the retina's response to stress. We will investigate the mechanisms by which the retina protects photoreceptors in the face of stress, and how it prepares itself for future insults. Several of these mechanisms have already been identified. The present work will investigate their function at the molecular level, to gain the understanding need to influence their operation. Understanding the response of photoreceptors to these environmental stresses will make it possible to slow the degeneration by manipulating the retinal environment.Read moreRead less