Retinal oxidative stress induced by intraocular hypertension in rats may be ameliorated by brimonidine treatment and N-acetyl cysteine supplementation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of brimonidine and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on retinal oxidative status under ocular hypertension.


METHODS
Ocular hypertension is produced in right eyes of 60 rats through intraocular injection of sodium hyaluronate. The left eyes received intracameral saline as sham. Twenty right eyes (brimonidine group) received topical brimonidine twice a day for a week. Other 20 eyes received intraperitoneal NAC (NAC group) once a day. Another group of 20 eyes were followed without any drugs but only intracameral sodium hyaluronate (sodium hyaluronate group) into right eyes.


RESULTS
Intraocular injection of sodium hyaluronate increased intraocular pressure for a week and caused retinal peroxidation and decreased glutathione peroxidase and catalase levels. Brimonidine and NAC treatment reversed the retinal oxidative stress created by high intraocular pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
Brimonidine and NAC supplementation provide antioxidative properties to retina and decrease retinal damage induced by ocular hypertension.
Ozdemir
Gokhan
G
Department of Ophthalmology, Kahramanmaras Sutcuimam University, Turkey. gozdemir@hotmail.com
Tolun
Fatma Inanc
FI
Gul
Mustafa
M
Imrek
Secil
S
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular
D011810:Quinoxalines; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D000111:Acetylcysteine