Abstract
Purpose: To study the protective effect of resveratrol against retinal injury induced by ischemiareperfusion (I/R), and the underlying mechanism action.Methods: Retinal I/R injury was established in 72 healthy male SD rats. The rats were assigned to 3 groups: control, model and resveratrol groups, with 24 rats in each group. Pathological changes in retina were determined using H&E staining. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were counted usingfluorescence gold retrograde staining. Western blotting was used to assay the expressions of caspase- 3, Bax, Bcl-2, GFAP, COX-2 and iNOS. The expressions of COX-2 and iNOS were measured by immunofluorescence.Results: The retina in the control group was dense and ordered, and its morphology was normal. In contrast, the retina in the model group was thinner, with loose cells and disordered structure. In the resveratrol group, the retina was thicker, the structure was orderly, and the cells were dense. Relative to control, the population of RGCs in model rat retina was significantly reduced, and the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, GFAP, COX-2 and iNOS were significantly upregulated (p < 0.05). In the resveratrol group, the number of RGCs in the retina was markedly elevated, relative to model rats, and the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, GFAP, COX-2 and iNOS were significantly decreased (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Resveratrol protects the retina from I/R injury in rats by inhibiting RGCs apoptosis, glial activation and expressions of inflammatory factors. Thus, this compound may be potentially suitable for the management of retina damage.
 Keywords: Resveratrol, RGCs apoptosis, Glial activation, Inflammatory factors, I/R injury
Highlights
Age-related macular degeneration of neovascularization, glaucoma and other eye diseases are closely related to retinal ischemia, and may result in severe visual impairment and blindness [1]
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the nerve cells located in the final segment of retina, which is composed of multipolar ganglion cells involved in transmission of visual information
It has been found that the damage due to ocular ischemia and hypoxia occurs in ischemic diseases caused by occlusion of retinal artery and vein, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma
Summary
Age-related macular degeneration of neovascularization, glaucoma and other eye diseases are closely related to retinal ischemia, and may result in severe visual impairment and blindness [1]. It is caused by increase in intraocular pressure, as well as oxidative stress, hemodynamic disorder, inflammation and immune response, neuron apoptosis and glial cell activation [3]. There is need to identify safe and effective drugs for reducing intraocular pressure so as to inhibit the progressive loss of RGCs in glaucoma. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound with antioxidant, anti-aging, antiinflammatory, neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects [4] It is an activator of NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), a ribozyme which plays an important role in oxidative stress, cell aging, neuroprotection and neuronal growth and development. A needle connected to a saline bag about 150 cm high (110 mmHg pressure) was inserted into the anterior chamber of the rat eyes.
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