The Effect of Melatonin on Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival in Ischemic Retina
10.4068/cmj.2012.48.2.116
- Author:
Sang Woo PARK
1
;
Hyo Seok LEE
;
Mi Sun SUNG
;
Su Jin KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School & Research Institute of Medical Science, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea. exo70@naver.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Glaucoma;
Ischemia;
Melatonin;
Neuroprotection
- MeSH:
Animals;
Anoxia;
Blotting, Western;
Glaucoma;
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein;
Intraocular Pressure;
Ischemia;
Melatonin;
Mice;
Neuroglia;
Neuroprotective Agents;
Retina;
Retinal Ganglion Cells;
Retinaldehyde
- From:Chonnam Medical Journal
2012;48(2):116-122
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Our objective was to determine whether melatonin increases retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival in ischemic mouse retina. Transient retinal ischemia was induced by an acute elevation of intraocular pressure in C57BL/6 mice. To evaluate the effect of melatonin on retinal ischemia, an equal amount of either melatonin or vehicle was intraperitoneally injected into the mice 1 hour before ischemia, at the time of ischemia, and 1 hour after ischemia. Hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression were assessed 6, 12, and 24 hours after ischemia-reperfusion by Western blot. RGC survival was measured 2 weeks after ischemia-reperfusion. The expression of HIF-1alpha and GFAP peaked 24 hours after ischemia-reperfusion in ischemic retina. The treatment of ischemic retina with melatonin resulted in the inhibition of increased expression of HIF-1alpha and GFAP. RGC survival was greater in retinas treated with melatonin than in retinas treated with vehicle 2 weeks after ischemia-reperfusion. On the basis of our results, we suggest that melatonin treatment increased RGC survival in ischemic mouse retina. The neuroprotective effect of melatonin is mediated by the inhibition of HIF-1alpha stabilization and reduced activity of glial cells in ischemic mouse retina.
