Pitavastatin: protection against neuronal retinal damage induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of pitavastatin against neuronal retinal damage induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.


RESULTS
Ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats using ocular hypertension. Pitavastatin (0.1, 0.5, or 1.0 mg/kg) was given intravenously 12 hr or 5 min before, or 12 or 24 hr after the induction of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Morphometric and retrograde labeling analyses revealed neuroprotective effects when pitavastatin (0.5 mg/kg) was administered 5 min before--even 12 and 24 hr--after induction of ischemia-reperfusion injury. These effects depended on dose; protection was noted at pitavastatin concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mg/kg but not 0.1 mg/kg. Furthermore, preadministration of pitavastatin (0.5 mg/kg) reduced expression of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 at 12 and 24 hr after induction of ischemia-reperfusion injury.


CONCLUSIONS
As pitavastatin was efficacious in preventing retinal neuronal death, it may be a novel therapeutic modality for ischemic retinal diseases.
Kawaji
Takahiro
T
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Honjo, Kumamoto, Japan. kawag@white.plala.or.jp
Inomata
Yasuya
Y
Takano
Akiomi
A
Sagara
Nina
N
Inatani
Masaru
M
Fukushima
Mikiko
M
Tanihara
Hidenobu
H
Honjo
Megumi
M
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011804:Quinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000150:complications*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019007:P-Selectin; D011804:Quinolines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; C108475:pitavastatin