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AIM: To investigate the protective effects of hypericin (a specific protein kinase C antagonist) on retinal glutamate levels in acute ocular hypertension of rabbits. METHODS: Among 35 New Zealand rabbits, three rabbits were selected at random as blank control (normal) group, 16 rabbits as hypericin-treated group, and 16 rabbits as saline control group. 0.1 mL hypericin was injected into vitreous cavity of hypericin-typericin was injected into vitreous cavity of hypericin-treated rabbits, while 0.1 mL normal saline was injected into vitreous cavity of saline control rabbits. At 12, 24, 48, 72 hours after the injection, an acute ocular hypertension model of 100 mmHg (1kPa = 7.5 mmHg) for 90 minutes was induced via pouring into anterior chamber. Specimen was obtained 24 hours later, For the normal group, specimen was obtained without the above treatment. The retinal glutamate was measured by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). RESULTS: The retinal glutamate of normal group was (1.71 ± 0.23) x 10-5 mmol/g. It increased markedly in acute ocular hypertension eyes (P < 0.05). Glutamate was (5.66 ± 0.21) x 10-5mmol/g in the hypericin-treated eyes at 48 hours after intravitreal injection, while it was (8.41 ± 0.27) x 10-5mmol/g in the saline-control eyes at the same time. The difference was significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hypericin can decrease retinal glutamate in the eyes of rabbits with acute ocular hypertension. It may have protective effects on the retina in glaucoma pathology. LA: Chinese
Dr. F.-G. Jiang, Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022 Hubei Province, China. fgjiang@hotmail.com
11.14 Investigational drugs; pharmacological experiments (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
5.3 Other (Part of: 5 Experimental glaucoma; animal models)
11.8 Neuroprotection (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)