The role of Dock molecules in glaucoma and optic neuritis

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26861479
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Ophthalmology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science
• Principal Investigator: KIMURA Atsuko 公益財団法人東京都医学総合研究所, 運動・感覚システム研究分野, 主任研究員 (60569143)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: バルプロ酸 / 緑内障 / 神経保護

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examine neuroprotective effects of Valproic acid (VPA) in glutamate-induced excitotoxicity model, which mimics some of the pathological features of glaucoma. In vivo retinal imaging using optical coherence tomography revealed that glutamate -induced retinal degeneration was suppressed in the VPA-treated retina, and histological analyses confirmed that VPA reduced retinal ganglion cell death. In vivo electrophysiological analyses demonstrated that visual impairment was prevented in the VPA-treated etina, clearly establishing both histological and functional effects of VPA. Our findings raise intriguing possibilities that VPA may be useful for treatment of glaucoma.

Free Research Field

神経薬理学