Retinal ganglion cell protection in normal tension glaucoma model mice by anti-oxidant and anti-inframatory carotenoid.

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24791827
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Ophthalmology
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: NITTA Takuya 北海道大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 客員研究員 (90507576)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 神経保護 / 網膜神経節細胞 / 緑内障 / 抗酸化物質 / 海産物

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Purpose: To investigate the cytoprotective effect of astaxanthin (ASX) on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration using a normal tension glaucoma (NTG) mouse model which lacks glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST) in Muller cells.
Methods: Three-week old GLAST+/- mice were given intraperitoneal injection of ASX (60, 30, and 10 mg/kg/day, respectively) or vehicle alone, and the wide type (WT) mice were given vehicle alone for 14 days, respectively. At the 5th week, the number of RGC 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) in retinas was analyzed with Western blotting. and NF-ｋB was measured using an EIA assay kit. Results and Conclusion: The number of RGC of GLAST+/- mice significantly decreased, as compared to that of WT mice. However, RGC loss was suppressed by administration of ASX at a dose dependent manner. Following ASX administration, HNE was significantly down-regulated, but NF-ｋB was steady. Our data suggest that ASX may be applicable for NTG as a promising therapeutics.

Free Research Field

眼科学