Effects of Systemic PACAP Treatment in Monosodium Glutamate‐Induced Behavioral Changes and Retinal Degeneration

: The present article investigated effects of systemic pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) treatment in monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced retinal degeneration and neurobehavioral alterations in neonatal rats. It was found that the dose of PACAP that effectively enhances neurobehavioral development in normal rats was able to counteract the retarding effect of MSG on righting, forelimb placing, and grasp reflexes and caused a significant amelioration of the righting and gait reflex performance and motor coordination at 2 weeks of age. In the retina, significant amelioration of neuronal loss in the inner retinal layers was achieved, but it was much less than that observed by local administration.