University of Eastern Finland study links dopamine changes to retinal degeneration

Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) have identified significant changes in the retinal dopamine system during the progression of inherited retinal degeneration. The study, published in the Journal of Neurochemistry, utilized mouse models to observe how dopamine concentrations rise in retinal tissue even before structural degeneration becomes visible.

Working in collaboration with Uppsala University, the team used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging to measure and localize dopamine for the first time in this context. The findings indicate changes in dopamine metabolism and the expression of genes related to the broader catecholamine system compared to healthy retinas.

While the study does not establish a direct causal link between increased dopamine levels and the progression of the disease, the results suggest an overactivation of the dopaminergic system. This discovery supports ongoing efforts by the UEF School of Pharmacy, led by Associate Professor Henri Leinonen, to develop combination treatments that target dopamine and the wider catecholamine system to address various genetic mutations.