TJ-CEO
2010 , Vol 5 , Num 1
Neuroprotective Effects of Memantine on Retinas of Experimental Glaucomatous Rats: Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Analysis
1İzmit Seka Devlet Hastanesi, Göz Hastalıkları Kliniği, Kocaeli, Uzm. Dr.2Kocaeli Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi Hastanesi Göz Hastalıkları A.D., Kocaeli, Prof. Dr.
3İstanul Üniversitesi İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi, Histoloji ve Embriyoloji A.D., İstanbul, Prof. Dr.
4Kocaeli Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi Hastanesi Göz Hastalıkları A.D., Kocaeli, Doç. Dr.
5İstanul Üniversitesi İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi, Histoloji ve Embriyoloji A.D., İstanbul, Asist. Dr. Purpose: The present work aimed to investigate the effects of early and late systemic memantine treatment on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) count, retinal layer thickness and retinal apoptotic cell density in a rat model of experimental glaucoma.
Material and Methods: Glaucoma was induced by injecting sodium hyaluronate into the anterior chamber of rats for a period of three weeks. Animals received a single daily dose of 10mg/kg memantine intraperitoneal either starting with the glaucoma induction for a period of six weeks (early phase treatment) or following the glaucoma induction for a period of three weeks (late phase treatment). Glaucoma and control groups were no treated. After sacrification, RGCs and immunohistochemically stained apoptotic cells were counted and retinal thickness were measured.
Results: We observed that retinal thickness was preserved significantly in memantine treated animals. Similar results were seen when RGC counts compared. When started with glaucoma induction, memantine treatment significantly reduced RGC loss. Even started in the late phase of glaucoma, memantine treatment seemed to preserve the number of RGCs significantly. In nontreated animals widespread apoptotic cells were observed both in RGC layer and iner nuclear layer, whereas the intensity of apoptotic cells were found to be significantly less in memantine treated groups.
Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that memantine may act as an effective neuroprotective agent in retinal injury associated with experimental glaucoma. Also it seems possible that the neuroprotective effect of memantine is much significant when administrated in the early phase of glaucoma. Keywords : Glaucoma, memantine, neuroprotection, rat, retina