Chondroitin sulfate-derived disaccharide protects retinal cells from elevated intraocular pressure in aged and immunocompromised rats.
OBJECTIVE
A disaccharide (DS) derived from the naturally occurring compound chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) was recently shown to have neuroprotective activity. The authors examined the ability of this compound (CSPG-DS) to protect retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from death caused by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).


METHODS
With the use of chronic and acute models of elevated IOP, the authors examined the effects of CSPG-DS on RGC survival in adult ( approximately 2 months old), aged (10-12 months old), and immunocompromised Lewis rats. Systemic, topical, and oral routes of administration were examined.


RESULTS
CSPG-DS protected RGCs from IOP-induced death. Treatment was effective in all three examined rat populations (normal adult, aged, and immunocompromised rats) and with all routes of administration, possibly in part through its control of microglial activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Results point to the therapeutic potential of CSPG-DS for glaucoma, particularly in elderly populations for whom disease prevalence is high.
Bakalash
Sharon
S
Departments of Neurobiology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Rolls
Asya
A
Lider
Ofer
O
Schwartz
Michal
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D004187:Disaccharides