[The future started: nitric oxide in glaucoma].
Nitric oxide (NO) is an important messenger intra and extra molecular implicated in vasodilatation, contractility, neurotransmission, neurotoxicity and inflammation. NO is formed from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Nitric oxide synthase has three isoforms: NOS- 1 neuronal, NOS-2 inducible and NOS-3 endothelial (role in vasodilatation). Nitric oxide has a demonstrate role in many neurodegenerative diseases like: glaucoma, Alzheimer disease, multiple sclerosis and cerebral-cardio-vascular diseases.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the activity of the NOS by immunohistochemistry in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).


METHODS
Observational, prospective, clinical study, during 9 months on one group of 9 patients with POAG that have underwent filtering surgery - trabeculectomy. The fragments of trabecular meshwork harvested during surgery were studied by immunohistochemistry for NOS. The exclusion criteria at the beginning of the study were any ocular or general pathology associated.


CONCLUSIONS
After laboratory analyses in patients with primary open angle glaucoma we observed the presence of the activity of NOS in trabecular meshwork. The trabecular distribution of NOS suggests an important role of nitric oxide in the future therapies for the glaucoma. The increase of nitric oxide makes vasodilatation and improves contractility in the trabecular meshwork; the final effect being the decrease of intraocular pressure and on the other hand the contra-apoptotic effect giving neuroprotection.
Stefan
C
C
Central Military Emergency Hospital Carol Davila, Bucharest.
Dumitrica
Diana Melinte
DM
Ardeleanu
Carmen
C
D000368:Aged; D045462:Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000201:enzymology; D014130:Trabeculectomy
D045462:Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III