Neuroprotective effect of citicoline against KA-induced neurotoxicity in the rat retina.
We examined whether citicoline has neuroprotective effect on kainic acid (KA)-induced retinal damage. KA (6 nmol) was injected into the vitreous of rat eyes. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with citicoline (500 mgkg-1, i.p.) twice (09:00 and 21:00) daily for 1, 3 and 7 days after KA-injection. The neuroprotective effects of citicoline were estimated by measuring the thickness of the various retinal layers. In addition, immunohistochemistry was conducted to elucidate the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Morphometric analysis of retinal damage in KA-injected eyes showed a significant cell loss in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and inner plexiform layer (IPL) of the retinas at the 1, 3 and 7 days after KA injection, but not in the outer nuclear layers (ONL). At 1 and 3 days after citicoline treatment, no significant changes were detected in the retinal thickness and immunoreactivities of ChAT and TH. The immunoreactivities of ChAT and TH had almost disappeared in the retina after 7 days of KA injection. However, prolonged citicoline treatment for 7 days significantly attenuated the reduction of retinal thickness and immunoreactivities of ChAT and TH. The present study suggests that treatment with citicoline has neuroprotective effect on the retinal damage due to KA-induced neurotoxicity.
Park
Chang Hwan
CH
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Institute of Health Science, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, 92 Chilam-dong, Jinju, Kyungnam 660-751, South Korea.
Kim
Yoon Sook
YS
Noh
Hae Sook
HS
Cheon
Eun Woo
EW
Yang
Young Ae
YA
Yoo
Ji Myong
JM
Choi
Wan Sung
WS
Cho
Gyeong Jae
GJ
D000818:Animals; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007608:Kainic Acid; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000201:enzymology; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D007608:Kainic Acid