title: Protective effects of naringenin eye drops on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced photoreceptor cell death in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of naringenin eye drops on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced photoreceptor cell death in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Photoreceptor cell death was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of MNU (60 mg/kg) in rats. Both eyes of all animals were instilled with one drop of vehicle, 0.5% or 1.0% naringenin eye drops three times per day from 7d before to 17d after MNU injection. Effects of naringenin on MNU-induced photoreceptor cell death were evaluated by electrophysiological and histological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Flash electroretinography (FERG) and oscillatory potentials (OPs) recordings showed that the vehicle control group had remarkable reduction of amplitudes and prolongation of latency times. FERG and OPs responses were significantly reversed in MNU-induced rats treated with 0.5% or 1.0% naringenin eye drops compared with the vehicle control. The retinal morphological results showed that naringenin dose-dependently preserved the outer nuclear layer, outer retina and total retina.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that topical treatment with naringenin eye drops prevented retinal neurons from MNU-induced structural and functional damages.
authors: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong Province, China.
authors: Jun-Li
authors: JL
authors: Lin
authors: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China.
authors: Yan-Dong
authors: YD
authors: Wang
authors: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong Province, China.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Ma
authors: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong Province, China.
authors: Chun-Mei
authors: CM
authors: Zhong
authors: Zhuhai United Laboratories Co., Ltd, Zhuhai 519040, Guangdong Province, China.
authors: Mei-Rong
authors: MR
authors: Zhu
authors: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong Province, China.
authors: Wen-Pei
authors: WP
authors: Chen
authors: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong Province, China.
authors: Bao-Qin
authors: BQ
authors: Lin
keywords: N-methyl-N-nitrosourea; naringenin; photoreceptor cell death; retinitis pigmentosa