BDNF and retinitis pigmentosa: However, both basic science research and clinical studies support the hypothesis that EA and/or acupuncture may benefit visual function in patients with retinitis pigmentosa and that the mechanism through which EA might exert its action on the regulation of NGF and BDNF and/or their receptors in retinal cells (Pagani et al., 2006; Bittner et al., 2014).