'Press of International Journal of Ophthalmology (IJO Press)'
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of rosuvastatin, in a rat
experimental glaucoma model.
METHODS: Ocular hypertension was induced in right eyes of Long-Evans
rats (n=30) by cauterization of three episcleral veins. Left eyes were
defined as controls. Rats were divided into five groups: oral
rosuvastatin, intravitreal rosuvastatin, oral +intravitreal
rosuvastatin, intravitreal sham and glaucoma without intervention. Rats
were sacrificed at day 14. Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) number was
assessed by histopathological analysis. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl
transferase-mediated dUTP-nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining and the
expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in RGC layer was
also examined.
RESULTS: A significant intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation was seen
(P=0.002). Elevated IOP resulted in a significant decrease in number of
RGCs in group 5 (70.33 +/- 8.2 cells/mm(2)) when compared with controls
(92.50 +/- 13.72 cells/mm(2); P=0.03). The RGC number in group 1 (92.4
+/- 7.3 cells/mm(2)) was significantly higher than group 5 (P=0.03). The
numbers of RGC in groups 2, 3 (57.3 +/- 8.2 cells/mm(2), 60.5 +/- 12.9
cells/mm(2)) were comparable with that of group 5 (P=0.18 and P=0.31).
The apoptosis rates with TUNEL staining were also parallel to RGC
number. Animals with experimentally induced glaucoma showed an increase
in retinal GFAP immunoreactivity.
CONCLUSION: Decrease in RGC loss and apoptosis suggest the
neuroprotective potential of oral rosuvastatin treatment in a rat model
of ocular hypertension. However intravitreal rosuvastatin showed a
contrary effect and further studies are required