title: Effects of L-arginine on anatomical and electrophysiological deterioration of the eye in a rodent model of nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to clarify the effectiveness of L-arginine (1) for reducing the severity of anatomical changes in the eye and improving visual function in the acute stage of a rodent model of nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (rNAION) and (2) in preventing those changes in anatomy and visual function.
  
  
  METHODS
  For the first aim, L-arginine was intravenously injected into rats 3 h after rNAION induction; for the second aim, rNAION was induced after the oral administration of L-arginine for 7 days. The inner retinal thickness was determined over time by optical coherence tomography, and the amplitude of the scotopic threshold response (STR) and the number of surviving retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were measured. These data were compared with the baseline data from the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both intravenous infusion of L-arginine after rNAION induction and oral pretreatment with L-arginine significantly decreased optic disc edema in the acute stage and thinning of the inner retina, reduced the decrease in STR amplitude, and reduced the decrease in the number of RGCs during rNAION.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on these results, we conclude that L-arginine treatment is effective for reducing anatomical changes in the eye and improving visual function in the acute stage of rNAION and that pretreatment with L-arginine is an effective therapy to reduce the severity of the condition during recurrence in the other eye.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture 889-1692, Japan. hchuman@post.med.miyazaki-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chuman
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maekubo
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osako
authors.forename: Michitaka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishiai
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Nobuhisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nao-I
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004596:Electroretinography; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence
chemical_list: D001120:Arginine