Neuroprotective effect of edaravone in experimental glaucoma model in rats: a immunofluorescence and biochemical analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the neuroprotective activity of systemically administered edaravone in early and late stage of experimental glaucoma in rats.


METHODS
In this study, 60 Wistar albino rats were used. Experimental glaucoma model was created by injecting hyaluronic acid to the anterior chamber once a week for 6wk in 46 of 60 subjects. Fourteen subjects without any medication were included as control group. Edaravone administered intraperitoneally 3 mg/kg/d to the 15 of 30 subjects starting at the onset of glaucoma induction and also administered intraperitoneally 3 mg/kg/d to the other 15 subjects starting at three weeks after the onset of glaucoma induction. The other 16 subjects who underwent glaucoma induction was administered any therapy. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) have been marked with dextran tetramethylrhodamine (DTMR) retrograde at the end of the sixth week and after 48h, subjects were sacrificed by the method of cardiac perfusion. Alive RGC density was assessed in the whole-mount retina. Whole-mount retinal tissues homogenized and nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) values were measured biochemically.


RESULTS
RGCs counted with Image-Pro Plus program, in the treatment group were found to be statistically significantly protected, compared to the glaucoma group (Bonferroni, P<0.05). The neuroprotective activity of edaravone was found to be more influential by administration at the start of the glaucoma process. Statistically significant lower NO levels were determined in the glaucoma group comparing treatment groups (Bonferroni, P<0.05). MDA levels were found to be highest in untreated glaucoma group, TAC levels were found to be lower in the glaucoma induction groups than the control group (Bonferroni, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Systemic administration of Edaravone in experimental glaucoma showed potent neuroprotective activity. The role of oxidative stress causing RGC damage in glaucoma was supported by this study results.
Department of Ophthalmology, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli 41200, Turkey.
Arzu Toruk
AT
Aksar
Department of Ophthalmology, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli 41200, Turkey.
Nursen
N
Yuksel
Department of Ophthalmology, Ministry of Health-Ordu University Research and Training Hospital, Ordu 52000, Turkey.
Mustafa
M
Gok
Department of Biochemistry, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli 41200, Turkey.
Mustafa
M
Cekmen
Department of Ophthalmology, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli 41200, Turkey.
Yusuf
Y
Caglar
antioxidant; edaravone; glaucoma; neuroprotection