Abstract
Purpose::
To protect retinal ganglion cells (RGC) on retinal ischemic injury, the effect of KR-31378 was studied in rat eyes suffering from experimentally-induced retinal ischemia.
Methods::
The retinal ischemia was induced by high intra ocular pressure for acute ischemia and three episcleral vein occlusion for chronic retinal ischemia. KR-31378 was given orally in three different doses. The retinal ganglion cells were observed by retrograde labeling.
Results::
In acute retinal ischemic model, KR-31378 protected the degeneration of retinal neurons, dose dependently. In chronic ischemia, RGC density in KR-31378 treated group was statistically higher than the non-treated group and also reduced intra ocular pressure (IOP).
Conclusions::
These findings indicate that systemic KR-31378 may protect an ischemic injury induced ganglion cell loss in glaucoma
Keywords: retina • ganglion cells • ischemia