Abstract
Purpose: :
N–methyl–D–aspartate(NMDA) induces glutamate receptor–mediated neurotoxicity and apoptosis in retinal ganglion cells. Caspases are involved in apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to determine small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeted against caspase could protect retinal ganglion cells from apoptosis in rat retina.
Methods: :
Seven weeks old male Wister rats were treated with intravitreous injection of 20 nmol NMDA. SiRNA specific for rat Caspase 3 and 8, negative control siRNA were injected into vitreous prior to NMDA injection in study eyes. No siRNA and NMDA were injected in contol eyes. Retinal ganglion cells were labeled with Fluoro–Gold retrogradely 3 day before sacrifice. Flatmounts of fixed retina were examined by fluorescence microcopy, retinal ganglion cells in 12 field were counted.
Results: :
In Caspase 3 siRNA injected eyes, retinal ganglion cells loss was 25% from normal contol retina. In Caspase 8 siRNA injected eyes , negative control siRNA inected eyes and no treated eyes (only NMDA injected eyes),retinal ganglion cells loss was 40% from normal control eyes. But there are no significant difference.
Conclusions: :
Caspase3 siRNA may protect the retinal ganglion cells damage induced by NMDA.
Keywords: neuroprotection • ganglion cells