Data from Z. Aktas et al provide new insights into apoptosis
2007 NOV 21 -- In this recent article published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, scientists in Ankara, Turkey conducted a study "To investigate the neuroprotective effects of topically applied brimonidine tartrate 0.2% (BMD), an alpha(2)-receptor agonist, on the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer and inner nuclear layer (INL) of rabbit retina in endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced optic nerve (ON) ischaemia model Osmotic minipumps were surgically implanted into one eye of 16 New Zealand Albino rabbits to deliver ET-1 at the constant rate of 0.5 mu L/h for 2 weeks. Eyes were divided into four groups." "ET-1 was given with (Group 3) and without topical BMD therapy (Group 1). Groups 2 and 4 were taken as controls. Rabbits were sacrificed at day 14. Morphological alterations, total cell number and proportion of cells undergoing apoptosis in INL and RGC layer were assessed by histopathological analysis to determine the survival of the cells of the INL and RGC layer Endothelin-1 led to severe reduction of cells in both the RGC layer and INL in Group 1 (P < 0.05). In Group 3, the total cell number and the proportion of cells undergoing apoptosis in the RGC layer were comparable with the control group (Group 4), whereas the former was found to be higher and the latter was found to be lower than those recorded for Group 1. However, the total cell number in the INL was found to be lower in Group 3 compared with that of Group 4, despite topical BMD therapy (P < 0.05) Topically applied BMD seems to be neuroprotective and antiapoptotic in the ET-1-induced ON ischaemia model, especially for RGCs," wrote Z. Aktas and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "BMD might be used as an adjuvant agent for its neuroprotective effects in hypoxic-ischaemic conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, normotensive glaucoma and other retinal vascular occlusive conditions which require further investigations." Aktas and colleagues published their study in Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (Neuroprotective effect of topically applied brimonidine tartrate 0.2% in endothelin-1-induced optic nerve ischaemia model. Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 2007;35(6):527-534). Additional information can be obtained by contacting Z. Aktas, 59 Sokak, 7 Eskisehir Yolu, Ankara, Turkey. The publisher of the journal Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology can be contacted at: Blackwell Publishing, 9600 Garsington Rd., Oxford OX4 2DQ, Oxon, England. Keywords: Turkey, Ankara, Apoptosis. This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com.
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