title: [Protection effect of astaxanthin against light-induced retinal damage in rat].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the protective effect of astaxanthin (AST) against light-induced retinal damage in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Albino rats were divided into three groups: a group treated orally with 1 mg/kg AST daily (group H), a group treated with 0.2 mg/kg AST (group L), and a control group (group C). Rats were administered AST in groups H and L and olive oil in group C followed by a 12-hour exposure to 3000-lux white light. After exposure for 7 days, the protective effect of AST was evaluated functionally by electroretinogram (ERG) and histologically by measuring outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness and by counting rate of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) stained cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After exposure to light, the b-wave amplitudes were significantly preserved in the AST groups compared to group C, Further the rate of the residual amplitude was higher in group H than in group L. The ONL thicknesses were significantly thicker in AST-treated rats compared to group C. The rates of TUNEL stained cells were significantly lower in the following order: group H, L and C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AST may have a protective effect against light-induced retinal damage in albino rats.
authors: Atsushi
authors: A
authors: Yamamoto
authors: Mitsuko
authors: M
authors: Yuzawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008027:Light; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D024341:Xanthophylls; C005948:astaxanthine