Citicoline reduces upregulated clusterin following kainic acid injection in the rat retina.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of citicoline on upregulated clusterin and retinal damage induced by kainic acid (KA).


METHODS
KA was injected into the vitreous of rats. Effects of systemic citicoline treatments were estimated by measuring the thickness of the various retinal layers, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemical techniques.


RESULTS
One day after KA injection, the immunoreactivity of clusterin increased significantly. In rats treated with KA plus citicoline, clusterin immunoreactivity was markedly reduced compared to KA-treated rats. Western blot analysis showed that clusterin protein levels were increased in KA-treated rats, but decreased in KA plus citicoline-treated rats. Apoptotic cell death was determined by TUNEL method. Citicoline reduced the expression of clusterin, as well as the expression of TUNEL after KA injection in the rat retina.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased expression of clusterin following KA injection in the rat retina suggests the presence of neurodegenerative events; citicoline may provide neuroprotection against neuronal cell damage.
Park
Chang Hwan
CH
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, Institute of Health Science, Medical Research Center for Neural Dysfunction, Gyeongsang National University, Gyungnam, South Korea.
Kim
Yoon Sook
YS
Lee
Ho Kyung
HK
Kim
Young Hee
YH
Choi
Mee Young
MY
Jung
Dhong Eun
DE
Yoo
Ji Myong
JM
Kang
Sang Soo
SS
Choi
Wan Sung
WS
Cho
Gyeong Jae
GJ
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D051152:Clusterin / Q000378:metabolism*; D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007267:Injections; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014822:Vitreous Body
D051152:Clusterin; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline; D007608:Kainic Acid