title: Neuroprotective effect of memantine in a rabbit model of optic nerve ischemia.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of memantine, a N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist, in an experimental optic nerve ischemia. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) in a dosage of 0.1 microg/day was delivered to the perineural region of the anterior optic nerve by osmotically driven minipumps for 8 weeks in 10 rabbits. In 5 rabbits, 1 mg/kg memantine was administered concurrently by intramuscular injection once a daily. Morphologic optic nerve head changes were monitored with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Multivariate statistical analysis showed a significant change in topometric parameters (cup area, cup depth and rim volume), indicating an increase in optic nerve head cupping and a decrease of neural rim volume in the ET-1 administered eyes (P < 0.0001). In rabbits where memantine was given concurrently with ET-1, no significant change in topometric parameters was observed after ET-1 administration (P = 0.78). The current results suggest that memantine has a neuroprotective effect in optic nerve ischemia. Memantine may potentially be useful in the management of various ischemic disorders of the optic nerve, including glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Woo
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong Myung
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyunjoong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000633:toxicity; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023421:Models, Animal; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D008559:Memantine