Neuroprotective effects of Erigeron Breviscapus (vant) Hand-Mazz on NMDA-induced retinal neuron injury in the rats / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

ABSTRACT

·AIM: To investigate whether Erigeron Breviscapus (vant) Hand-Mazz (EBHM) EBHM has neuroprotective effect against N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced neuron death in retinal ganglion cell layer (RGCL).· METHODS: 60 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into four groups. 6 animals were normal control group (group A). The others were divided as group B (EBHM group), group C (normal saline+NMDA group) and group D (EBHM + NMDA group). Each group had 18 rats.10nmol NMDA was intravitreally injected to induce partial damage of the neurons in RGCL in the right eyes of Groups C and D. Same volume PBS was intravitreally injected into the left eyes as self-control. Groups B and D were pre-treated intraperitoneally with 6g/L EBHM solution at a dose of 150mg/kg body weight/day seven days before and after NMDA treatment. Group C were administrated intraperitoneally with 9g/L normal saline at the same time of EBHM injection. Rats were sacrificed at 4,7,14d after NMDA treatment. Flat whole retinas were stained with 5g/L cresyl violet and neuron counting in RGCL from both eyes were observed. Each subgroup had 6 rats.· RESULTS: There was no significant difference of neuron counting in RGCL between the right eye and the left eye in group A (P=0.200). There was no significant difference between normal control group and EBHM group either in the right eyes or in the left eyes at 4, 7 and 14 d respectively after intravitreal injection of 10nmol NMDA in group C and group D. (P=0.636, P=0.193). Neuron counting of RGCL in group C and D was significantly decreased in the NMDA-treated eyes at 4, 7 and 14d after intravitreal injection (P＜0.001). There was no significant difference between self-control eyes group and normai control group(P＞0.05). However, neuron counting was significantly higher in the EBHM+NMDA group than normal saline +NMDA group at 14days after intravitreal injection (P=0.044), but was lowered than normal control group (P＜0.05).· CONCLUSION: EBHM has no effect on neuron counting of RGCL when administered alone in normal rats.The results indicates that EBHM plays a partial protective role in NMDA-induced neuron loss in RGCL in the rats.