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Erschienen in:
01.05.2003 | Laboratory Investigation
Calcium antagonists in N-methyl d-aspartate-induced retinal injury
Erschienen in: Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology | Ausgabe 5/2003
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Purpose
To detect the neuroprotective role of nimodipine and dantrolene in N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-induced retinal injury.
Methods
In this study we used two calcium antagonists which have two different modes of action, nimodipine and dantrolene, to prevent NMDA-induced retinal ischemia in guinea pigs. In 40 animals we injected nimodipine (n=10), dantrolene (n=10), a combination of both (n=10) or sterile 0.9% NaCl solution as a placebo (n=10) before intravitreal injection of NMDA. We enucleated one eye of each animal after 48 hours and performed histopathologic examination. We also measured malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in retinal homogenates as a marker of ischemic injury.
Results
Our results indicate that ganglion cells of the retina were preserved mostly by nimodipine, followed by combined nimodipine–dantrolene, and dantrolene respectively. The ganglion cell count was statistically significantly higher in cases where we used calcium antagonists than in the control group (p<0.05). We also found that MDA was significantly reduced by calcium antagonists compared to the control group (p<0.05).
Conclusion
Our data show that nimodipine and dantrolene both have potential neuroprotective effects; nimodipine preserved retinal ganglion cells to a greater extent than dantrolene from NMDA-induced retinal injury.