title: Nimodipine rescues N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced retinal degeneration in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  That nimodipine (NMD) is potentially useful for ophthalmic treatment. However, the effect of NMD is unknown on retinal degenerative diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of NMD on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced retinal degeneration (RD) and elucidate its possible mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morphological observation of NMD on MNU-induced RD was evaluated by light microscopy and electron microscopy. Nonenzymatic antioxidant glutathione (GSH) was measured by a colorimetric method. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Telomerase was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The significantly protective effect of NMD on MNU-induced RD was demonstrated morphologically. NMD increased the content of GSH and decreased the level of TGF-β in rat retina. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that NMD treatment significantly decreased mRNA level of telomerase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that NMD inhibit MNU-induced RD in rats. The expressions of TGF-β, telomerase and GSH contents might partially contribute to its protective effects on MNU-induced RD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, P. R. China ; Department of Pharmacology, HE's University, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Gui-Yuan
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Qiu-Hua
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: N-methyl-N-nitrosourea; Nimodipine; retinal degeneration