Abstract
Purpose: :
To investigate the protective effects of cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), a potent heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) inducer, in a rat model of ischemia-reperfusion injury, and to document the possible anti-apoptotic mechanisms underlying the protection in ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Methods: :
Rats pretreated with intraperitoneal injection of CoPP 2 days before ischemia insult were subjected to retinal ischemia induced by increasing intraocular pressure to 130 mmHg for 60 minutes followed by 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 7 days of reperfusion.
Results: :
Pharmacological induction of HO-1 by CoPP led to HO-1 expression in retina. HO-1 overexpression alleviated the apoptosis in retina at 24 hours of reperfusion, preserved retinal ganglion cells and attenuated reduction of inner retina thickness 7 days after ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Conclusions: :
Overexpression of HO-1 by pharmacological induction protected retina from subsequent cellular damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury through anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects.
Keywords: ischemia • apoptosis/cell death • inflammation