Glaucoma is one of the most common sight-threatening
eye disorders and one of the main causes of irreversible
blindness worldwide. The current
therapies focusing on reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) are often insufficient to prevent the progression of the disease, so the therapeutic management of
glaucoma remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective, IOP-lowering independent effects of a nutritional supplement containing
forskolin,
homotaurine, spearmint extract and
vitamins of the B group in a model of acute
glaucoma developed in mice.
Glaucoma was induced in adult wild-type C57BL/6J mice by transient elevation of IOP. The dietary supplement, branded as Gangliomix® (125 mg/kg/day), was administered by oral gavage for 17 days and
ocular hypertension was induced on the 10th day of treatment. A histological analysis of the retinas was performed and RGC survival was evaluated with
fluorogold labeling and Brn3a immunostaining on wholemount and
retinal sections. Expression of
alpha-spectrin,
caspase-3, PARP-1 and GFAP was studied with western blotting or immunofluorescence. A significant increase in RGC survival was reported in the retina of mice treated with the dietary supplement as compared to vehicle-treated animals. The observed neuroprotection was associated with a
calpain activity decrease, reduction in
caspase-3 and PARP-1 activation, and prevention of GFAP upregulation. These effects were independent from the hypotensive effects of the supplement. Altogether, our data suggest that the dietary supplementation with
forskolin,
homotaurine, spearmint extract and
vitamins of the B group supports RGC survival and may offer beneficial effects in
glaucoma patients in combination with the currently used IOP-lowering
therapy.