title: Light and lithium effects in the rat retina: modification by the PAF antagonist BN 52021.
abstract: We tested the effect of an antagonist of platelet-activating factor (PAF), BN 52021, on both acute light-induced and light plus lithium-induced rod outer segment (ROS) lesions. Rats were fed lithium carbonate (2.6 g/kg chow) for 3 weeks. Half of the lithium-treated rats received BN 52021 (25 mg/kg) via gastric intubation prior to light exposure. Control and treated rats were exposed to 400-450 lux (measured at the eye level of the rats) of diffuse, white fluorescent light for 30 min, followed by 2 h of darkness and then decapitated. The eyes were removed and prepared for light and electron microscopic observation. The structural alterations of ROS were quantified from electron micrographs using a multifunctional computer image-analysis system. Our data show a significant reduction of ROS lesions by BN 52021, and this is most pronounced in light plus lithium-treated rats. Furthermore, in confirmation of previous studies, chronic lithium treatment significantly augmented light-elicited phagosome numbers, and BN 52021 reduced this effect. Our findings thus suggest that light and lithium may act via PAF responses in the rat retina.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Remé
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Munz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doly
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Droy-Lefaix
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004224:Diterpenes; D046934:Ginkgolides; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects; D008094:Lithium; D008297:Male; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012374:Rod Cell Outer Segment / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D046934:Ginkgolides; D007783:Lactones; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D008094:Lithium; C045856:ginkgolide B