Neuroprotective effect of memantine in a rabbit model of optic nerve ischemia.
- Author:
Tae Woo KIM
1
;
Dong Myung KIM
;
Ki Ho PARK
;
Hyunjoong KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Comparative Study ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords: endothelin-1; memantine; optic nerve ischemia
- MeSH: Animal; Comparative Study; Endothelin-1/toxicity; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists/*therapeutic use; Male; Memantine/*therapeutic use; Models, Animal; Neuroprotective Agents/*therapeutic use; Optic Disk/*drug effects/pathology; Optic Nerve/*drug effects/pathology; Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic/chemically induced/pathology/*prevention & control; Rabbits
- From:Korean Journal of Ophthalmology 2002;16(1):1-7
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of memantine, a N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist, in an experimental optic nerve ischemia. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) in a dosage of 0.1 microg/day was delivered to the perineural region of the anterior optic nerve by osmotically driven minipumps for 8 weeks in 10 rabbits. In 5 rabbits, 1 mg/kg memantine was administered concurrently by intramuscular injection once a daily. Morphologic optic nerve head changes were monitored with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Multivariate statistical analysis showed a significant change in topometric parameters (cup area, cup depth and rim volume), indicating an increase in optic nerve head cupping and a decrease of neural rim volume in the ET-1 administered eyes (P < 0.0001). In rabbits where memantine was given concurrently with ET-1, no significant change in topometric parameters was observed after ET-1 administration (P = 0.78). The current results suggest that memantine has a neuroprotective effect in optic nerve ischemia. Memantine may potentially be useful in the management of various ischemic disorders of the optic nerve, including glaucoma.
