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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of memantine, a N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist, in an experimental optic nerve ischemia. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) in a dosage of 0.1 μg/day was delivered to the perineural region of the anterior optic nerve by osmotically-driven minipumps for eight weeks in ten rabbits. In five rabbits, 1 mg/kg memantine was administered concurrently by intramuscular injection once daily. Morphological optic nerve head changes were monitored with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Multivariate statistical analysis showed a significant change in topometric parameters (cup area, cup depth and rim volume), indicating an increase in optic nerve head cupping and a decrease of neural rim volume in the ET-1 administered eyes (p < 0.0001). In rabbits in which memantine was given concurrently with ET-1, no significant change in topometric parameters was observed after ET-1 administration (p = 0.78). The current results suggest that memantine has a neuroprotective effect in optic nerve ischemia. Memantine may potentially be useful in the management of various ischemic disorders of the optic nerve, including glaucoma.
Dr. T.W. Kim, Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea
11.8 Neuroprotection (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)