Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate whether azithromycin protected retina against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, and to elucidate the potential neuroprotection mechanisms involved.
Methods :
Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: Sham, Sham plus azithromycin, I/R plus Vehicle, I/R plus azithromycin. Retinal I/R injury was produced by high intraocular pressure (HOP). Prior to insult, azithromycin was administered for 7 days. Morphological changes were analyzed on stained histological sections. The density of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) was analyzed using Fluoro-Gold(FG) retrograde labeling 7d after I/R. Levels of retinal malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were determined. mRNA expressions of retina(Apaf-1, Parp, Bcl-2) were analyzed by PCR. TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6 Levels in retina were analyzed by Elisa 7d post-insult.
Results :
7d post-insult, the thickness of the entire retina, and the number of cells in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) were significantly greater in group I/R plus azithromycin than in group I/R. Significant loss of RGCs was observed in group I/R, the density of RGCs was significantly higher in group I/R plus azithromycin. Azithromycin attenuated I/R-induced activation of Apaf-1, Parp, IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα and downregulation of Bcl-2 in retina. Azithromycin significantly decreased MDA levels and increased activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT in retina.
Conclusions :
Azithromycin protects retinal ganglion cells against I/R in retina, the potential mechanism appears to involve stimulating anti-oxidant enzyme and suppressing inflammatory factors.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.