title: Age-dependent changes in the severity of capillary degeneration in rat retina following N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced neurotoxicity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have shown that injury to the retinal vasculature, including capillary degeneration, occurs following N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-induced neuronal cell loss, but it is unclear whether there are age-dependent differences in the severity of vascular damage. The purpose of the present study was to determine age-related changes in retinal capillary degeneration in NMDA-induced retinal damage rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single intravitreal injection of NMDA (200 nmol/eye) was performed in 1-, 2-, 3-, 7- and 15-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. Seven days after NMDA injection, damage to retinal neurons and blood vessels were assessed by measuring the number of cells in the ganglion cell layer and the length of empty basement membrane sleeves, left behind by regressing endothelial cells, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At all ages examined, the NMDA-induced neurotoxicity exhibited similar levels of ganglion cell death. However, the degeneration of capillaries in NMDA-treated retina was severe during the early stages of retinal vascular development, and the degree of capillary degeneration decreased with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The degree of retinal capillary degeneration in NMDA-induced retinal damage rat model decreases in an age-dependent manner. Retinal capillaries may be resistant to retinal neuronal damage in young adults.
authors: Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Tokyo , Japan , and.
authors: Yasuyuki
authors: Y
authors: Asami
authors: Tsutomu
authors: T
authors: Nakahara
authors: Daiki
authors: D
authors: Asano
authors: Yuki
authors: Y
authors: Kurauchi
authors: Asami
authors: A
authors: Mori
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Sakamoto
authors: Kunio
authors: K
authors: Ishii
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D016923:Cell Death; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D016202:N-Methylaspartate
keywords: Age; endothelial cells; excitotoxicity; retinal blood vessels; retinal neuronal cells