Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2012, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (10): 731-735.

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Alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4- isoxazolepropionic acid receptor antagonist inhibits apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells in a rabbit model of optic nerve injury

Ruijia Wang, Xinping Luan, Yiti Mu, Hongyu Jia, Jingxuan Xu   

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2011-12-22 Revised:2012-02-11 Online:2012-04-05 Published:2012-04-05
  • Contact: Xinping Luan, Professor, Chief physician, Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China luanxinping@yahoo.com.cn
  • About author:Ruijia Wang★, Studying for master’s degree, Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China

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Abstract:

A rabbit model of traumatic optic nerve injury, established by occlusion of the optic nerve using a vascular clamp, was used to investigate the effects of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4- isoxazolepropionic acid receptor antagonist GYKI 52466 on apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells following nerve injury. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay showed that retinal ganglion cells gradually decreased with increasing time of optic nerve injury, while GYKI 52466 could inhibit this process. The results demonstrate that following acute optic nerve injury, apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells is a programmed process, which can be inhibited by the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4- isoxazolepropionic acid receptor antagonist.

Key words: optic nerve injury, retinal ganglion cells, glutamate, alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4- isoxazolepropionic acid receptor