We previously found that valproic acid (VPA) and other histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) ameliorate retinal degeneration (RD) caused by P23H rhodopsin in Xenopus laevis larvae and hypothesized that this may be due to enhancement of autophagy. Here we use X. laevis expressing an autophagy marker to assess effects of HDACis on autophagy. We also assess the effects of non-HDACi activators and inducers of autophagy on RD caused by P23H rhodopsin.
Keywords: Autophagy; Chloroquine; Histone deacetylase inhibitor; Rapamycin; Retinitis pigmentosa; Transgenic Xenopus laevis; Valproic acid.