Neuroprotective effects of a taurine-containing irrigation solution for vitrectomy.
BACKGROUND
During pars plana vitrectomy, the retina is exposed to several iatrogenic risk factors, including excitotoxicity. A taurine-containing irrigation solution for pars plana vitrectomy (PURI PROTECT) has been developed and is claimed to have neuroprotective properties.


METHODS
Retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5) and retinal whole mounts were incubated in standard irrigation solution (SIS) and SIS supplemented with 3 mM taurine (SIS-taurine). Excitotoxicity was induced by the addition of 8, 10, and 12 mM or 250 μM glutamate. Cell viability and cell survival were assessed by the MTT test and Annexin-V/propidium iodide flow cytometry. Whole mounts were stained with the Live/Dead staining assay. Pars plana vitrectomy with SIS or SIS-taurine was performed in rabbits. Animals were followed-up by electroretinography.


RESULTS
RGC-5 incubated in SIS-taurine showed a 4.3-fold (P < 0.0005) better overall cell viability and an up to 8.5-fold (P < 0.05) increased cell survival under excitotoxic conditions compared with that incubated in SIS. Whole mounts incubated in SIS-taurine showed a 1.7-fold (P < 0.0005) and 1.6-fold (P < 0.0005) better cell survival under excitotoxic and nonexcitotoxic conditions, respectively. In the immediate postoperative period, b-wave amplitudes were significantly better in animals operated with SIS-taurine compared with control (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
A taurine-containing irrigation solution may protect retinal ganglion cells against excitotoxicity.
Department of Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. maximilianschultheiss@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Maximilian
M
Schultheiss
Hannah
H
Ruschenburg
Max
M
Warga
Charlotte
C
Schramm
Kai
K
Januschowski
Sven
S
Schnichels
Tilo
T
Biedermann
Peter
P
Szurman
Martin S
MS
Spitzer
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000187:drug effects; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014821:Vitrectomy
D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013654:Taurine; D018698:Glutamic Acid