ABSTRACT
Objective To analyse the changes of nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase in rat retina under acute high ocular pressure and study the effect of nitric oxide in rat retinal damage under hypertension. Methods Sixty Wistar rats were divided randomly into five groups:Ocular hypertension 30 min,60 min,90 min and 12 h,24 h after reperfusion.Elevation of the ocular pressure in the anterior chamber of the rat eye caused retina ischemic damage.The changes of retinal nitric oxide content were observed indirectly by measuring NO 2 -/NO 3 - content in retina.The distribution and changes of neuronal constitutive nitric oxide synthase (ncNOS)were studied by immunocytochemical localization of ncNOS. Results ncNOS positive neurons were distributed in the inner nuclear layer (INL),ganglion cell layer (GCL) and the inner plexiform layer of the normal and ischemic rat retina.During acute high IOP 30 min,60 min and 90 min,NO content decreased gradually and ncNOS immune activity weakens.During reperfusion,NO content increased remarkably (P