Article · Volume 9, Issue 34 · pp. 149–154
Nimodipine rescues N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced retinal degeneration in rats
Dan Wang2,4, Yan Li3, Zhuo Wang4, Gui-yuan Sun2, Qiu-hua Zhang5
- 1Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, China.
- 2Department of Physiology, Experimental Teaching Center of Pharmacology, School of Life Science and Biopharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, China.
- 3Department of Pharmacology, HE’s University, China.
- 4Department of Basic Pharmacology, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Liaoning Shenyang, P. R, China.
Abstract
Background: That nimodipine (NMD) is potentially useful for ophthalmic treatment. However, the effect of NMD is unknown on retinal degenerative diseases.Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of NMD on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced retinal degeneration (RD) and elucidate its possible mechanisms.Materials and Methods: Morphological observation of NMD on MNU-induced RD was evaluated by light microscopy and electron microscopy. Nonenzymatic antioxidant glutathione (GSH) was measured by a colorimetric method. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-b) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Telomerase was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results: The significantly protective effect of NMD on MNU-induced RD was demonstrated morphologically. NMD increased the content of GSH and decreased the level of TGF-b in rat retina. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that NMD treatment significantly decreased mRNA level of telomerase.Conclusion: These data suggest that NMD inhibit MNU-induced RD in rats. The expressions of TGF-b, telomerase and GSH contents might partially contribute to its protective effects on MNU-induced RD.
Keywords: Nimodipine; N-methyl-N-nitrosourea; retinal degeneration
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