Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine the neuroprotective effects of resveratrol in preventing fluorescent retinal neuron loss following optic nerve crush in Thy1-cyan fluorescent protein (Thy1-CFP23Jrs) mice.Material and
Methods: :
Thy1-CFP23Jrs mice were imaged with blue-light Confocal Scanning Laser Opthalmoscopy (bCSLO) before and after optic nerve crush every week for 4 weeks. There were three groups: mice treated with vehicle, mice treated with 10 mg/kg resveratrol and mice treated with 50 mg/kg resveratrol. All groups were treated and imaged 48 hours before optic nerve crush and then every week for 4 weeks. The fluorescent spots were counted manually.
Results: :
The mean fluorescent cell losses in the control group were 60.2±8.4, 70.5±7.4, 75.6±7.3, and 72.6±10.9 percent at weeks 1 through 4, respectively (n=8). Mean fluorescent cell losses in the group treated with 10 mg/kg resveratrol were 55.0±10.0, 64.1±6.3, 66.8±9.0, and 68.3±7.6 percent at weeks 1- 4, respectively (n=7). Mean fluorescent cell losses in the group treated with 50 mg/kg resveratrol were 41.5±10.7, 54.7±7.1, 60.8±10.1, and 62.3±8.0 percent at weeks 1- 4, respectively (n=8). The numbers of fluorescent cells in mice that received 10 mg/kg resveratrol were greater by 9%, 9%, 12% and 6% at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after optic nerve crush than in the control mice, respectively (P<0.05 at weeks 1 and 2). In contrast, the numbers of fluorescent cells in mice that received 50 mg/kg resveratrol were greater by 31%, 22%, 20%, and 14% at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after optic nerve crush than in the control mice, respectively (P<0.05 at weeks 1, 2 and 3).
Conclusions: :
Longitudinal bCSLO study of fluorescent retinal neurons in Thy1- CFP23Jrs mice pre-treated with 50 mg/kg resveratrol indicates a neuroprotective effect against loss of fluorescent cells following optic nerve crush. Because fluorescent cells in these mice are predominantly retinal ganglion cells, these findings suggest there is a neuroprotective effect of resveratrol for retinal ganglion cells with optic nerve injury.
Keywords: neuroprotection • ganglion cells • optic nerve