title: Comparison of hyperbaric oxygen versus iloprost treatment in an experimental rat central retinal artery occlusion model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is one of the serious ophthalmological emergencies with poor visual prognosis. Iloprost is a stable prostacyclin analogue and has prominent anti-edema, anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, and antiagregant effects. The main objective of this work was to investigate iloprost as an alternative agent versus hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) in the treatment of CRAO.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight healthy Wistar albino male rats were randomly assigned into control (n = 7, sham operation), HBO (n = 7), iloprost (n = 7), and sham groups (n = 7). CRAO model was created through optic nerve exploration and ligation. Full-thickness retina (FTR), outer nuclear layer (ONL), inner nuclear layer (INL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness were measured on Hematoxylin/Eosin (H&E) stained retinal sections and immunohistochemical analysis including terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotindeoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay was performed to determine the apoptotic index (AI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  AI values of HBO (0.204 ± 0.067) and iloprost (0.197 ± 0.052) groups were significantly lower than sham (0.487 ± 0.046) group (p < 0.001). Any significant difference was found between the HBO and iloprost groups in terms of AI (p = 0.514). A statistically significant increase in thickness of FTR, ONL, INL and GCL was detected in HBO, iloprost and sham groups compared to the control group (p = 0.002). FTR, ONL, INL and GCL thickness were significantly thinner in HBO and iloprost groups than in the sham group (p = 0.002). A significant lesser increase was observed in all the retinal layers thickness in iloprost group versus HBO group (p = 0.002) except for INL (p = 0.665).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results demonstrated anti-edema, neuroprotective, and anti-apoptotic effects of iloprost quantitatively; thus, iloprost may be a beneficial alternative agent in the treatment of CRAO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ağrı State Hospital, Ağrı, Turkey.
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Berna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yusufhan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yazir
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Melda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yardimoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ministry of Health, Ordu University Research and Training Hospital, Ordu, 52200, Turkey. drmgok81@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7660-6557
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gok
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical School, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cigdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vural
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selenay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rencber
authors.affiliation: Oksimed Hyperbaric Oxygen Clinic, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Salih K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Emek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D016285:Iloprost / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D016285:Iloprost
keywords: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy; Retinal artery occlusion; İloprost; İschemia-reperfusion injury