Effect Of Rho-kinase Inhibitor Y-27632 Research Articles

Rho- Kinase Inhibitor Y-27632 Decreases the Thickness of Trabecular Meshwork in Juvenile Rats Mod-el Injected with Sodium Hyaluronate

Most glaucoma drugs lower the intraocular pressure (IOP) by decreasing the aqueous humor production and increasing the outflow through uveoscleral pathway. None of these drugs work mainly on increasing outflow through the trabecular pathway. Consequently, the experiment to develop glaucoma drugs directly target at the trabecular outflow pathway is highly required. The purpose of this study is to reveal the effect of rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 on the thickness of trabecular meshwork in juvenile rats model injected with sodium hyalu-ronate. This study was an experimental study with posttest only control group design. Twenty-four rats were included in this study. Each eye of the rat would be considered as one sample. Samples were divided into 6 groups, negative control group, positive control I group with intracameral sodium hyaluronate injection, posi-tive control II group with topical Y-27632 10 mM, and three experimental groups with intracameral injection of sodium hyaluronate and Y-27632 10-1 mM, 1 mM, and 10 mM respectively. After the procedures all rats were sacrificed and enucleated. Trabecular meshwork tissue was stained with Hematoxilene-Eosin and evalu-ated under 400× microscopic magnification. Quantitative measurements were taken using computerized image analysis with dot slide program. There were significant statistic differences among the positive control I group and the experimental groups (p-value < 0.05) as well as the positive control II group and the experi-mental groups (p-value < 0.05). The highest mean of decreasing trabecular meshwork thickness was noted in the group given by sodium hyaluronate and Y-27632 10 mM with value of 118.42 µm. There was decreasing thickness of trabecular meshwork due to the effect of rho- kinase inhibitor Y-27632 in juvenile rats injected with sodium hyaluronate.

Rho Kinase as a Novel Molecular Therapeutic Target for Hypertensive Internal Anal Sphincter

An increase in Rho kinase (ROK) activity has been associated with agonist-induced sustained contraction of the smooth muscle, but its role in the pathophysiology of spontaneously tonic smooth muscle is not known. Present studies examined the effects of ROK inhibitor Y-27632 in the tonic smooth muscle of the rat internal anal sphincter (IAS) versus in the flanking phasic smooth muscle of the rectum. In addition, studies were performed to determine the relationship between the decreases in the basal IAS tone and the ROK activity. Confocal microscopic studies determined the cellular distribution of the smooth muscle-predominant isoform of ROK (ROCK-II) in the smooth muscle cells (SMCs). In in vitro studies using neurohumoral inhibitors and tetrodotoxin and the use of SMCs demonstrate direct relaxation of the IAS SMCs by Y-27632. The ROK inhibitor was more potent in the IAS than in the rectal smooth muscle. The IAS relaxation by Y-27632 correlated specifically with the decrease in ROK activity. Confocal microscopy revealed high levels of ROCK-II toward the periphery of the IAS SMCs. In in vivo studies, the lower doses of Y-27632 caused a potent and selective decrease in the IAS pressures without any adverse cardiovascular systemic effects. The ROK inhibitor also caused potent relaxation of the hypertensive IAS. RhoA/ROK play a crucial role in the maintenance of the basal tone in the IAS, and ROK inhibitors have a therapeutic potential in the IAS dysfunction characterized by the hypertensive IAS.