Neuroprotective Effects of a Taurine Containing Intraocular Irrigation Solution (Acriprotect)

Abstract

Purpose: : To examine the effect of a taurine containing irrigation solution for vitrectomy (AcriProtect) in comparison to other irrigation solutions (balanced salt solution plus [BSS plus], BSS and Acripur) on the 24h survival of ganglion cells in an isolated whole mount retina and to investigate its effects on retinal function measured by the electroretinogram.

Methods: : Whole mount bovine retina were stored for 24 hours at 4° C in darkness after preparation which was performed directly post mortem. The percentage of dead ganglion cells was studied using an ethidium homodiner-1 (EthD-1) stain. Furthermore bovine retinas were isolated and perfused with an oxygen saturated nutrient solution and the electroretinogram (ERG) was recorded. At stable ERG amplitudes AcriProtect with 5 mM glucose was used as perfusion medium and ERG was recorded for 45 minutes, followed by another 75 min of recording, during which the retinas were reperfused with the nutrient solution.

Results: : The percentage of dead cells in retinas stored in AcriProtect was 24.33% (standard deviation [sd] 6.9, n=12). The percentage when stored in BSS plus was 58.78% (sd 16.8, n=12), 79.43% (sd 23.26 n=12) when stored in BSS and 53.29% (sd 17.2, n=12) when stored in Acripur compared to 69.53% (sd 15.3, n=12) of dead cells in the control group. Only retinas that were stored 24 hours in AcriProtect had a statistically significant smaller percentage of dead cells compared to the control group (p = 0,00305). During the ERG recordings, no statistically significant changes in ERG amplitudes were reported.

Conclusions: : Although no short term benefit for retinal function represented by the ERG was recorded upon direct contact, taurine containing irrigation solution (AcriProtect) seems to have a beneficial effect on ganglion cell survival in the isolated retina.

Keywords: neuroprotection • retina: distal (photoreceptors, horizontal cells, bipolar cells) • retinal connections, networks, circuitry