Figure 7.

Retinal function in Abca4^−/−Rdh8^−/− mice is substantially preserved by SERM raloxifene. ERG recordings of scotopic a-wave (left) and b-wave (right) were plotted to evaluate the retinal function of drug-treated Abca4^−/−Rdh8^−/− mice 10 days after light-induced damage. Both a-wave amplitude, which reflects the response from photoreceptors, and b-wave amplitude, which reflects the response of downstream bipolar cells, were significantly higher in the raloxifene-treated group as compared with the DMSO and Y 134–treated groups (p < 0.05). Compared with the unbleached control group (no light), the raloxifene-treated group showed no significant difference in a- and b-wave amplitudes, suggesting that raloxifene provides nearly full protection of the retina against the light-induced damage. n = 4–5. Data are shown as means ± S.E. (error bars).