Dorsal-Ventral Differences in Retinal Structure in the Pigmented Royal College of Surgeons Model of Retinal Degeneration: Retinal Changes in the RCS With Age

Retinitis pigmentosa is a family of inherited retinal degenerations associated with gradual loss of photoreceptors, that ultimately leads to irreversible vision loss. The Royal College of Surgeon's (RCS) rat carries a recessive mutation affecting mer proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase (merTK), that models autosomal recessive disease. The aim of this study was to understand the glial, microglial, and photoreceptor changes that occur in different retinal locations with advancing disease. Pigmented RCS rats (RCS-p+/LAV) and age-matched isogenic control rdy (RCS-rdy +p+/LAV) rats aged postnatal day 18 to 6 months were evaluated for in vivo retinal structure and function using optical coherence tomography and electroretinography. Retinal tissues were assessed using high resolution immunohistochemistry to evaluate changes in photoreceptors, glia and microglia in the dorsal, and ventral retina. Photoreceptor dysfunction and death occurred from 1 month of age. There was a striking difference in loss of photoreceptors between the dorsal and ventral retina, with a greater number of photoreceptors surviving in the dorsal retina, despite being adjacent a layer of photoreceptor debris within the subretinal space. Loss of photoreceptors in the ventral retina was associated with fragmentation of the outer limiting membrane, extension of glial processes into the subretinal space that was accompanied by possible adhesion and migration of mononuclear phagocytes in the subretinal space. Overall, these findings highlight that breakdown of the outer limiting membrane could play an important role in exacerbating photoreceptor loss in the ventral retina. Our results also highlight the value of using the RCS rat to model sectorial retinitis pigmentosa, a disease known to predominantly effect the inferior retina

Dorsal-Ventral Differences in Retinal Structure in the Pigmented Royal College of Surgeons Model of Retinal Degeneration

Retinitis pigmentosa is a family of inherited retinal degenerations associated with gradual loss of photoreceptors, that ultimately leads to irreversible vision loss. The Royal College of Surgeon's (RCS) rat carries a recessive mutation affecting mer proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase (merTK), that models autosomal recessive disease. The aim of this study was to understand the glial, microglial, and photoreceptor changes that occur in different retinal locations with advancing disease. Pigmented RCS rats (RCS-p+/LAV) and age-matched isogenic control rdy (RCS-rdy +p +/LAV) rats aged postnatal day 18 to 6 months were evaluated for in vivo retinal structure and function using optical coherence tomography and electroretinography. Retinal tissues were assessed using high resolution immunohistochemistry to evaluate changes in photoreceptors, glia and microglia in the dorsal, and ventral retina. Photoreceptor dysfunction and death occurred from 1 month of age. There was a striking difference in loss of photoreceptors between the dorsal and ventral retina, with a greater number of photoreceptors surviving in the dorsal retina, despite being adjacent a layer of photoreceptor debris within the subretinal space. Loss of photoreceptors in the ventral retina was associated with fragmentation of the outer limiting membrane, extension of glial processes into the subretinal space that was accompanied by possible adhesion and migration of mononuclear phagocytes in the subretinal space. Overall, these findings highlight that breakdown of the outer limiting membrane could play an important role in exacerbating photoreceptor loss in the ventral retina. Our results also highlight the value of using the RCS rat to model sectorial retinitis pigmentosa, a disease known to predominantly effect the inferior retina

Grundlagen der EU-Regionalpolitik und Ansätze zu ihrer Weiterentwicklung

Der Artikel behandelt die theoretische Fundierung der EU-Regionalpolitik und Ansätze zu ihrer Weiterentwicklung. Die Modelle der neuen Außenhandelstheorie zeigen, dass Liberalisierung nicht immer und unmittelbar für alle Teilnehmer vorteilhaft ist. Auch wenn die langfristigen Vorteile von Liberalisierung unbestritten sind, können temporäre Anpassungskosten Liberalisierung verhindern. Periphere Länder könnten ihre Zustimmung verweigern, solange ihre Schwierigkeiten, an den Integrationsfortschritten teilzuhaben, dabei nicht ausreichend berücksichtigt werden. Dies ist ein Argument für Regionalpolitik nicht (nur) als Verteilungs-, sondern auch als Allokationsinstrument. Eine solche Regionalpolitik sollte nicht als ungebundener Finanzausgleich organisiert sein, sondern in Form einer Kofinanzierung zielgerichteter Entwicklungsprogramme erfolgen. Anderenfalls würden die Empfänger versucht sein, den Mittelzufluss auch distributiv zu verwenden, was in jedem Fall zu vermeiden ist. Künftige Reformen könnten auf eine stärkere Konzentration der Mittel auf arme Mitgliedstaaten, auf eine stärkere Regelbindung bei der Festsetzung der Förderhöhe und auf eine graduelle Kopplung der Förderung an eine wachstumsorientierte nationale Wirtschaftspolitik zielen. Abstract The paper deals with the theoretical foundations of regional development measures of the European Union (EU) and options for its development in the future. It appears that, according to new trade theory models, liberalisation is not always immediately beneficial for all participants. Although the long-term benefits of liberalisation are undisputed, temporary adjustment costs may prevent liberalisation measures. Peripheral countries may not agree to them as long as their problems in participating in an integrated market are not taken into account. This is an argument in favour of regional policy as an instrument of allocation, not (only) distribution. Such a regional policy should be implemented not in the form of unconditional grants but as co-financing of targeted regional development programmes. Otherwise, receivers would be tempted to use grants for distributional purposes which is to be avoided. Future reforms might aim at a higher concentration of funding on poor Member States, at an allocation of funding that follows rules rather than political discretion and at coupling support gradually to a growth-orientated national economic policy