title: Neuroprotective Effect of Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid on N-Methyl-D-Aspartate-Induced Retinal Ganglion Cell Degeneration.
abstract: Retinal ganglion cell degeneration underlies the pathophysiology of diseases affecting the retina and optic nerve. Several studies have previously evidenced the anti-apoptotic properties of the bile constituent, tauroursodeoxycholic acid, in diverse models of photoreceptor degeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of systemic administration of tauroursodeoxycholic acid on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced damage in the rat retina using a functional and morphological approach. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid was administered intraperitoneally before and after intravitreal injection of NMDA. Three days after insult, full-field electroretinograms showed reductions in the amplitudes of the positive and negative-scotopic threshold responses, scotopic a- and b-waves and oscillatory potentials. Quantitative morphological evaluation of whole-mount retinas demonstrated a reduction in the density of retinal ganglion cells. Systemic administration of tauroursodeoxycholic acid attenuated the functional impairment induced by NMDA, which correlated with a higher retinal ganglion cell density. Our findings sustain the efficacy of tauroursodeoxycholic acid administration in vivo, suggesting it would be a good candidate for the pharmacological treatment of degenerative diseases coursing with retinal ganglion cell loss.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Óptica, Farmacología y Anatomía, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Violeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gómez-Vicente
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiología, Genética y Microbiología, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lax
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiología, Genética y Microbiología, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fernández-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiología, Genética y Microbiología, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Netxibeth
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rondón
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiología, Genética y Microbiología, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Gema
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esquiva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Germain
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de la Villa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiología, Genética y Microbiología, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cuenca
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects*; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D013655:Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013655:Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid; C031655:ursodoxicoltaurine; D016202:N-Methylaspartate