Protective effect of carnosic acid, a pro-electrophilic compound, in models of oxidative stress and light-induced retinal degeneration.

PURPOSE: The herb rosemary has been reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. We have previously shown that carnosic acid (CA), present in rosemary extract, crosses the blood-brain barrier to exert neuroprotective effects by upregulating endogenous antioxidant enzymes via the Nrf2 transcriptional pathway. Here we investigated the antioxidant and neuroprotective activity of CA in retinal cell lines exposed to oxidative stress and in a rat model of light-induced retinal degeneration (LIRD). METHODS: Retina-derived cell lines ARPE-19 and 661W treated with hydrogen peroxide were used as in vitro models for testing the protective activity of CA. For in vivo testing, dark-adapted rats were given intraperitoneal injections of CA prior to exposure to white light to assess protection of the photoreceptor cells. Retinal damage was assessed by measuring outer nuclear layer thickness and by electroretinogram (ERG). RESULTS: In vitro, CA significantly protected retina-derived cell lines (ARPE-19 and 661W) against H(2)O(2)-induced toxicity. CA induced antioxidant phase 2 enzymes and reduced formation of hyperoxidized peroxiredoxin (Prx)2. Similarly, we found that CA protected retinas in vivo from LIRD, producing significant improvement in outer nuclear layer thickness and ERG activity. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that CA may potentially have clinical application to diseases affecting the outer retina, including age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, in which oxidative stress is thought to contribute to disease progression.

Efficacy and safety of memantine treatment for reduction of changes associated with experimental glaucoma in monkey, I: Functional measures.

PURPOSE: To determine, using electrophysiological measures of visual system function, whether oral daily dosing of memantine is both safe and effective to reduce the injury associated with experimental glaucoma in primates. METHODS: Argon laser treatment of the anterior chamber angle was used to induce chronic ocular hypertension (COHT) in the right eye of 18 macaque monkeys. Nine animals were orally dosed daily with 4 mg/kg memantine while the other nine animals received an oral dose of vehicle only. Using both conventional and multifocal methods, recordings of the electroretinogram (ERG) were made at approximately 3, 5, and 16 months after elevation of the intraocular pressure (IOP). Recordings of the visually-evoked cortical potential (VECP) were also made at the 16-month time point. RESULTS: Chronic ocular hypertension was associated with a reduction in the amplitude of components of the multifocal ERG response and visually-evoked cortical potential. Memantine-treated animals suffered less amplitude reduction for these measures than did vehicle-treated animals, though this treatment effect on the ERG measures was observed only at the early time points (3 and 5 months post IOP elevation). Memantine treatment was not associated with an effect on either the kinetics or amplitude of ERG or VECP response measures obtained from the normotensive eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic treatment with memantine, a compound which does not lower intraocular pressure, was both safe and effective for reduction of functional loss associated with experimental glaucoma.

Alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist protects retinal function after acute retinal ischemic injury in the rat.

Alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists have previously been shown to enhance neuronal survival in an optic nerve mechanical injury model and to protect photoreceptors in a light-induced degeneration model. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist in a pressure-induced retinal ischemia model. Brown-Norway rats were treated systemically or topically with alpha-2 adrenoceptor specific agonist brimonidine. Retinal ischemia was induced by increasing the intraocular pressure to 110 mm Hg for 50 min. The effect of brimonidine on retinal ischemic injury was functionally assessed in the rats 7 d later using electroretinography (ERG). Ischemia-induced retinal cell death was studied using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining. We found that brimonidine treatment significantly protected the retina from retinal ischemic injury in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This protection can be achieved either by systemic or topical application and can be blocked by pretreatment with the alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis, we found that brimonidine can up-regulate the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor, bcl-2 and bcl-xl in the retina. The drug also can activate two major cell survival signaling pathways in the retina: the extracellular-signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and phosphatidylinositol-3' kinase/protein kinase Akt pathways. All these aforementioned factors may potentially contribute in mediating brimonidine's protective effect in this acute retinal ischemia model.