title: Ameliorative effect of MK-801 on retinal ischemia.
abstract: The efficacy of MK-801, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, was evaluated in a rat model of retinal ischemia induced by elevated intraocular pressure. Intraperitoneal injection of MK-801 at 0, 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg was given immediately after reperfusion. At 7 days after reperfusion, the inner retinal thickness, as measured from histologic sections of the retinas, of the 10 mg/kg treated group showed significant beneficial effect, while the other doses had no significant effect. Retinal ganglion cell counts on flat preparations of the retinas showed a beneficial dose dependent effect of MK-801 with the lowest dose showing no effect, 3 mg/kg showing marginal effects and 10 mg/kg showing significant effects. Intravitreal infusion of MK-801 during the ischemic period suppressed ischemia/reperfusion-induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation measured at 18 hours after the insult as well as retinal tissue responses measured at 7 days. These findings suggested that the NMDA receptors may have an important role in ischemia-reperfusion insult as well as in mediating ischemia-induced apoptosis of retinal neurons. In addition, we demonstrated that pharmacological modulation of apoptotic cell death may affect the final tissue responses in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Siew
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Tso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D007511:Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate