Photoreceptor cell death mechanism in light damage

Light is one of the most ambient agents harmful to the retina. In Wistar rats prolonged exposure to 200 lux of LED light promotes photoreceptors cells death after 6 days. The possibility to know the cell photoreceptors death mechanism increases the likelihood to find a mixture of therapy with inhibitors or antagonists with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This study tested the cell death mechanism to elucidate the possible underlying molecular mechanisms. Adult male rats were exposed to 200 lux of LED light by different periods of constant light. The study focused on apoptosis and necroptosis pathways. Our findings reveal that necroptosis is an active pathway in retinal degeneration, occurring in both photoreceptors and glial cells, while apoptosis seem to be inactive during the studied time points.