BioCentury
ARTICLE | Distillery Therapeutics

Therapeutics: σ-1 receptor

June 30, 2016 7:00 AM UTC

Mouse studies suggest agonizing the σ-1 receptor could help prevent blindness caused by inherited retinal degeneration. In a mouse model of genetic retinal degeneration, the σ-1 receptor agonist (+)-pentazocine increased cone function and retinal thickness and decreased the number of active microglia in the retina, levels of oxidative stress markers in the retina, and the rate of retinal attachment compared with no treatment. Next steps could include testing σ-1 receptor agonists in animal models of other retinal degenerative diseases. ...