title: Effect of experimental glaucoma on the non-image forming visual system.
abstract: Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness worldwide, characterized by retinal ganglion cell degeneration and damage to the optic nerve. We investigated the non-image forming visual system in an experimental model of glaucoma in rats induced by weekly injections of chondroitin sulphate (CS) in the eye anterior chamber. Animals were unilaterally or bilaterally injected with CS or vehicle for 6 or 10 weeks. In the retinas from eyes injected with CS, a similar decrease in melanopsin and Thy-1 levels was observed. CS injections induced a similar decrease in the number of melanopsin-containing cells and superior collicular retinal ganglion cells. Experimental glaucoma induced a significant decrease in the afferent pupil light reflex. White light significantly decreased nocturnal pineal melatonin content in control and glaucomatous animals, whereas blue light decreased this parameter in vehicle- but not in CS-injected animals. A significant decrease in light-induced c-Fos expression in the suprachiasmatic nuclei was observed in glaucomatous animals. General rhythmicity and gross entrainment appear to be conserved, but glaucomatous animals exhibited a delayed phase angle with respect to lights off and a significant increase in the percentage of diurnal activity. These results indicate the glaucoma induced significant alterations in the non-image forming visual system.
authors: Laboratorio de Neuroquímica Retiniana y Oftalmología Experimental, Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Facultad de Medicina/CEFyBO, Universidad de Buenos Aires/CONICET, Paraguay, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Nuria
authors: N
authors: de Zavalía
authors: Santiago A
authors: SA
authors: Plano
authors: Diego C
authors: DC
authors: Fernandez
authors: María Florencia
authors: MF
authors: Lanzani
authors: Ezequiel
authors: E
authors: Salido
authors: Nicolás
authors: N
authors: Belforte
authors: María I Keller
authors: MI
authors: Sarmiento
authors: Diego A
authors: DA
authors: Golombek
authors: Ruth E
authors: RE
authors: Rosenstein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002452:Cell Count; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D005123:Eye / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007267:Injections; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012025:Reflex, Pupillary / Q000502:physiology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000473:pathology; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D008550:Melatonin