Premium
Sustained neuroprotection after a single intravitreal injection of PGJ2 in a rodent model of NAION
Author(s) -
TOUITOU V,
JOHNSON M,
MILLER NR,
GUO Y,
BERNSTEIN SL
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2010.2121.x
Subject(s) - neuroprotection , rodent model , toxicity , anterior ischemic optic neuropathy , medicine , retinal , optic nerve , optic neuropathy , ophthalmology , saline , retinal ganglion cell , pharmacology , retina , anesthesia , biology , neuroscience
Purpose Prostaglandin‐J2 (PGJ2) has been proposed as a potential neuroprotective agent. We wanted to evaluate the toxicity/efficacy of a single intravitreal (IVT) injection of PGJ2 in a rodent model of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Methods We used the laser‐activated rose Bengal induction method to produce AION in Long‐Evans rats. We evaluated IVT‐PGJ2 retinal and ON toxicity. Following induction, PGJ2 was IVT‐injected in the treatment‐group. IVT phosphate‐buffered‐saline (PBS) was used as control. Functional studies (VEP) were performed at baseline and at 7days post‐treatment. Structural studies included immunohistochemical (IHC), electron microscopic (EM) analysis of the optic nerve (ON), and stereologic analysis of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) numbers at30 day 30. Results Toxicity: IVT PGJ2 (5 eyes) did not induce any significant functional/structural changes in the retina or ON of treated animals compared with animals injected with PBS (5 eyes) 30 days post‐injection. Efficacy: After a single IVT‐injection, day7 VEPs in the PGJ2‐treatment group (n=7) had amplitudes 103.6% of baseline, whereas the PBS‐treated group (n=6) had VEPs that were 42.4% of the baseline. 30days post‐stroke, EM of ON from the treatment‐group demonstrated significant preservation of axons and decreased demyelination. Stereological RGCcounts confirmed significant (p<0.04) RGC preservation in PGJ2‐treated animals (1462.6 cells/µm2) compared w the stroke+PBS group (1156.5 cells/µm2). Conclusion A single IVT of PGJ2 preserves RGCs and their axons, and provides sustained neuroprotection for at least 1 month following initial ischemic event.