title: Protective effects of cerebrolysin in a rat model of optic nerve crush.
abstract: To investigate the effects of cerebrolysin (Cbl) on optic nerves (ON) and retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in a rat model of ON crush. Rats received intravitreal injection of Cbl (n = 20), intra-ON injection of Cbl (n = 20), intraperitoneal injection (IPI) of Cbl (n = 20), or phosphate buffered saline (PBS; n = 20) every day for 2 weeks after ON crush injury. At 3 weeks post-trauma, RGC density was counted by retrograde labeling with FluoroGold and visual function was assessed by flash visual-evoked potentials. Activities of microglia after insults were quantified by immunohistochemical analysis of the presence of ED1 in the optic nerve. At 3 weeks postcrush, the densities of RGCs in the Cbl-IVI group (1125 ± 166/mm(2)) and in the Cbl-IPI treatment group (1328 ± 119/mm(2)) were significantly higher than those in the PBS group (641 ± 214/mm(2)). The flash visual-evoked potential measurements showed that latency of the P1 wave was significantly shorter in the Cbl-IVI- and Cbl-IPI-treated groups (105 ± 4 ms and 118 ± 26 ms, respectively) than in the PBS-treated group (170 ± 20 ms). However, only Cbl IPI treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the number of ED1-positive cells at the lesion sites of the ON (5 ± 2 cells/vs. 30 ± 4 cells/high-power field in control eyes). Treatment with intra-ON injection of Cbl was harmful to the optic nerve in the crush model. Systemic administration of Cbl had neuroprotective effects on RGC survival and visual function in the optic nerve crush model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzu-Lun
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sun-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chung-Hsing
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Taiwan Adventist Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kung-Hung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Min-Muh
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Eye Research, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan; Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan. Electronic address: rktsai@tzuchi.com.tw.
authors.forename: Rong-Kung
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C006952:cerebrolysin
keywords: Cerebrolysin; Optic nerve crush; Retinal ganglion cell; Visual evoked potentials