title: The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor and effects of its agonist, pioglitazone, on a rat model of optic nerve crush: PPARγ in retinal neuroprotection.
abstract: It has been shown that peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is beneficial for central nervous system injury. However its role on optic nerve injury remains unknown. In the present study, we examined the change of PPARγ expression in rat retina following optic nerve injury and investigated the effect of pioglitazone (Pio), a PPARγ agonist, on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) neuroprotection using a rat optic nerve crush (ONC) model. Our results showed that PPARγ mRNA and protein levels were increased after ONC, and most of PPARγ-immunoreactive cells colocalized with Müller cells. Pio treatment significantly enhanced the number of surviving RGCs and inhibited RGCs apoptosis induced by ONC. However, when PPARγ antagonist GW9662 was used, these neuroprotective effects were abolished. In addition, pio attenuated Müller cell activation after ONC. These results indicate that PPARγ appears to protect RGCs from ONC possibly via the reduction of Müller glial activation. It provides evidence that activation of PPARγ may be a potential alternative treatment for RGCs neuroprotection.
authors.affiliation: Eye Institute, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
authors.forename: Juming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Junfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000813:Anilides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D051381:Rats; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C457499:2-chloro-5-nitrobenzanilide; D000813:Anilides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D047495:PPAR gamma; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D000077205:Pioglitazone