Impact of citicoline and coenzyme Q10 (COQUN Combo) on retinal ganglion cell survival in a experimental glaucoma model

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Aims/Purpose: Treatments for glaucoma damage have focused on lowering intraocular pressure (IOP). However, despite controlled IOP, the neurodegenerative process continues. Therefore, it is necessary to study new molecules with neuroprotective properties for treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in an experimental model of ocular hypertension (OHT) following the administration of a combination of citicoline and coenzyme Q10 (COQUN Combo).Methods: Four groups of Swiss albino mice were used: vehicle control (Vehicle, n = 6), COQUN Combo control (COQUN Combo, n = 5), laser with vehicle (LG+Veh, n = 6), and laser with COQUN Combo (LG+COQUN Combo, n = 6). COQUN Combo was administered daily mixed with gelatin, 15 days prior to laser induction and 7 days post‐induction in COQUN Combo and LG+COQUN Combo groups. The Vehicle and LG+Veh groups received only neutral gelatin. OHT was induced in the left eye by laser photocoagulation of the limbal and episcleral veins, analyzing hypertensive eyes and their contralateral. IOP was measured different time points after‐laser (24h, 48h, 3, 5, and 7 days). Retinal whole‐mounts were processed with 1) Anti‐Brn3a to semi‐automatically quantify the number of Brn3a+ RGCs; and 2) Anti‐melanopsin to manually quantify the number of melanopsin+ RGCs.Results: At 24 hours post‐laser, both vehicle and COQUN Combo hypertensive eyes exhibited a significant increase in IOP. However, the increase was lower in the COQUN Combo OHT eyes (p value < 0.0001). In vehicle OHT eyes, the number of Brn3a+ RGCs was significantly lower compared to the vehicle control. However, the COQUN Combo‐treated OHT eyes maintained similar values to vehicle control eyes, as did the contralateral vehicle and contralateral COQUN Combo eyes. The number of melanopsin+ RGCs was similar in all study groups.Conclusions: The COQUN Combo may be a neuroprotective strategy in glaucomatous pathology.