Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
BDNF treatment to eye and brain helps cat eye nerve injury recovery
By Weber, Arthur J et al.·Published in Investigative ophthalmology & visual science·2010·Department of Physiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Combined application of BDNF to the eye and brain enhances ganglion cell survival and function in the cat after optic nerve injury.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat with an optic nerve injury received treatment to help protect its vision. The researchers tested a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) injection in the eye alone and compared it to a combination of eye and brain treatment. The results showed that while the eye treatment alone helped improve the survival of important cells in the eye, adding treatment to the brain significantly boosted cell survival even more. After two weeks, the combined treatment resulted in survival rates similar to healthy cats, suggesting this approach could be a promising option for protecting vision after optic nerve injuries.
People also search for: cat optic nerve injury treatment · BDNF for cat vision · how to help cat with eye injury
Abstract
PURPOSE: To determine whether application of BDNF to the eye and brain provides a greater level of neuroprotection after optic nerve injury than treatment of the eye alone. METHODS: Retinal ganglion cell survival and pattern electroretinographic responses were compared in normal cat eyes and in eyes that received (1) a mild nerve crush and no treatment, (2) a single intravitreal injection of BDNF at the time of the nerve injury, or (3) intravitreal treatment combined with 1 to 2 weeks of continuous delivery of BDNF to the visual cortex, bilaterally. RESULTS: Relative to no treatment, administration of BDNF to the eye alone resulted in a significant increase in ganglion cell survival at both 1 and 2 weeks after nerve crush (1 week, 79% vs. 55%; 2 weeks, 60% vs. 31%). Combined treatment of the eye and visual cortex resulted in a modest additional increase (17%) in ganglion cell survival in the 1-week eyes, a further significant increase (55%) in the 2-week eyes, and ganglion cell survival levels for both that were comparable to normal (92%-93% survival). Pattern ERG responses for all the treated eyes were comparable to normal at 1 week after injury; however, at 2 weeks, only the responses of eyes receiving the combined BDNF treatment remained so. CONCLUSIONS: Although treatment of the eye alone with BDNF has a significant impact on ganglion cell survival after optic nerve injury, combined treatment of the eye and brain may represent an even more effective approach and should be considered in the development of future optic neuropathy-related neuroprotection strategies.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19710411/