Protective effects of systemic treatment with methylprednisolone in a rodent model of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (rAION).

Abstract

This study investigated the protective effects of the administration of steroids on optic nerves (ON) and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in a rodent model of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (rAION). We induced rAION using rose bengal and argon laser irradiation in a photodynamic procedure on the optic discs of rats. The treated groups received methylprednisolone (MP) via peritoneal injection for 2 weeks. The control group received intraperitoneal injections of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) post-rAION. At the 4th week post-infarct, MP treatments significantly rescued the RGCs (mm(2)) in the central retinas (1920 ± 210, p < 0.001) and mid-peripheral retinas (950 ± 240, respectively, p = 0.018) compared with those of the PBS-treated rats (central: 900 ± 210 and mid-peripheral: 440 ± 180). Functional assessment with flash visual-evoked potentials demonstrated that P1 latency (ms) was shortened in the MP group compared to the PBS group (108 ± 14 and 147 ± 9, respectively, p < 0.001). In addition, the P1 amplitude (uV) was enhanced in the MP group compared to the PBS group (55 ± 12 and 41 ± 13, respectively, p < 0.05). TUNEL assays showed a decrease in the number of apoptotic cells in the RGC layers of MP-treated retinas compared to the PBS-treated group (p < 0.05). ED1 positive cells (/HPF) were significantly decreased in the ONs of the MP group compared to the PBS group (p < 0.001). In conclusion, systemic administration of MP had neuroprotective effects on RGC survival and ON function in the rAION animal model.

• Authors: Tzu-Lun Huang, Shun-Ping Huang, Chung-Hsing Chang, Kung-Hung Lin, Shu-Wen Chang, Rong-Kung Tsai
• Journal: Experimental eye research (Exp Eye Res) Vol. 131 Pg. 69-76 (Feb 2015) ISSN: 1096-0007 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25543054 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Glucocorticoids
• Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate

Topics

• Animals
• Disease Models, Animal
• Evoked Potentials, Visual (drug effects)
• Glucocorticoids (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Immunohistochemistry
• In Situ Nick-End Labeling
• Injections, Intraperitoneal
• Male
• Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Optic Nerve (drug effects, pathology)
• Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic (drug therapy, pathology, physiopathology)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Retinal Ganglion Cells (drug effects, pathology)