June 2015
Volume 56, Issue 7
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2015
Neuroprotective Effect of Rosiglitazone on Retinal Changes in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Eduardo M Normando
    UCL Institute of Ophthalmology & Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College NHS trust, London, United Kingdom
  • Ben Davis
    Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmlogy, London, United Kingdom
  • Shereen Nizari
    Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmlogy, London, United Kingdom
  • Lisa Turner
    Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmlogy, London, United Kingdom
  • Giulia Malaguarnera
    Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmlogy, London, United Kingdom
  • Li Guo
    Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmlogy, London, United Kingdom
  • M Francesca Cordeiro
    UCL Institute of Ophthalmology & Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College NHS trust, London, United Kingdom
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships Eduardo Normando, None; Ben Davis, None; Shereen Nizari, None; Lisa Turner, None; Giulia Malaguarnera, None; Li Guo, None; M Francesca Cordeiro, DARC (P)
  • Footnotes
    Support None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2015, Vol.56, 4362. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      Eduardo M Normando, Ben Davis, Shereen Nizari, Lisa Turner, Giulia Malaguarnera, Li Guo, M Francesca Cordeiro; Neuroprotective Effect of Rosiglitazone on Retinal Changes in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2015;56(7 ):4362.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose: Currently there is an unmet need for early diagnosis and neuroprotective strategies in Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Recently, several studies have also reported that Rosiglitazone (RSG) may be of therapeutic benefit in PD. The aim of this study is to determine whether retinal changes (apoptotic counts and retinal layer thickness) can be used as a biomarker to study effects of systemic treatment in experimental PD.

Methods: Dark Agouti rats (n = 24) were injected daily with rotenone (Rot) or vehicle control for 10 days. Animals were then either left untreated for another 10 days, or treated with daily RSG for 10 days. Retinal Ganglion Cells (RGCs) apoptosis was assessed using DARC and measurements of whole retina, Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL), Inner Nuclear Layer (INL) and photoreceptor layer (IS/OS) thickness were obtained simultaneously using SD-OCT. Imaging was performed in vivo at baseline and at 20 days after initial Rot administration. Histology was used to validate in-vivo findings.

Results: Animals treated with Rot revealed a significant increase in RGCs apoptosis after daily Rot administration (68.4 ± 4.6 vs. 33.4 ± 11.5; p<0.001). OCT imaging showed increase in whole retinal thickness (103% ± 2.3% vs. 97.9% ± 1.1%; p<0.01), RNFL (109.5% ± 2.95% vs. 97.4% ± 0.85%; p<0.01), ONL (102.86% ± 1.8% vs. 98.2% ± 0.76%; p<0.05) and IS/OS (106.43% ± 1.3% vs. 99% ± 1.3%; p<0.001) in Rot animals compared to vehicle control. A significant reduction in RGC apoptosis was seen in RSG treated animals (20.7 ± 1.3 spots vs. 68.4 ± 4.6 spots; p<0.001) compared to Rot. A preservation of whole retina (100.6% ± 0.3% vs. 103% ± 2.3%; p<0.01), RNFL (100.6% ± 0.2% vs. 109.5% ± 2.95%; p<0.001) and IS/OS (100.4% ± 0.6% vs. 106.43% ± 1.3%; p<0.001) thickness was also seen in RSG compared to Rot treated animals.

Conclusions: We have shown that RSG is neuroprotective in experimental PD, as shown using retinal imaging with DARC and OCT. This novel finding highlights the potential use of the eye as a window onto the brain, using non-invasive and accessible retinal imaging technology, with important implications for translation to the clinic, where better end point in PD are clearly needed.

×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×