title: Neuroprotective effect of latanoprost on rat retinal ganglion cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate the neuroprotective effect of intravitreal administration of latanoprost on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) damage induced by N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) or optic nerve axotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using Sprague-Dawley rats, retinal ganglion cell damage was induced by either intravitreal administration of NMDA or optic nerve axotomy. Latanoprost at doses of 0.03, 0.3, 3, 30 and 300 pmol was administered intravitreally before NMDA injection or optic nerve axotomy. Retinal damage was evaluated by counting the number of surviving RGCs retrogradely labeled with fluorogold under the microscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven days after the NMDA injury, the number of surviving RGCs was significantly increased at doses of more than 30 pmol atanoprost (846+/-178 cells/mm(2 ) P=0.0166) compared with vehicle control (556+/-122 cells/mm(2)). Ten days after the optic nerve axotomy, the number of surviving RGC was significantly increased even at a dose of 0.3 pmol (815+/-239 cells/mm(2), P=0.0359) compared with control (462+/-75 cells/mm(2)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravitreal administration of latanoprost has a neuroprotective effect on rat RGC damage induced by either NMDA or optic nerve axotomy, while its pharmacological features are different.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 1-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, 980-8574, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideyo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakazawa
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimura
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fuse
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kashiwagi
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019771:Axotomy; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival; D007267:Injections; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000633:toxicity; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D000077338:Latanoprost