PHOTORECEPTOR RESCUE

Photoreceptor cell death is the final, irreversible event in many blin ding diseases including retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular dise ase and retinal detachment. This paper examines the potential strategi es for preventing photoreceptor cell death in the context of current u nderstanding of the mechanisms of cell death. There is evidence to sug gest that photoreceptor cells are inherently vulnerable, apoptosis is the final common pathway of photoreceptor cell loss, and other retinal cells play an important role in the survival of rods and cones. Furth ermore, the rationale of using neurotrophic factors as therapeutic age nts in retinal degeneration is discussed in detail. Photoreceptor resc ue by manipulation of genes involved in apoptosis and some pharmacolog ical agents is also described.