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Abstract #3587 Published in IGR 4-2
A prodrug of a selective inhibitor of inducible mitric oxide synthase is neuroprotective in the rat model of glaucoma
Neufeld AH; Das S; Vora S; Gachie E; Kawai S; Manning PT; Connor JRJournal of Glaucoma 2002; 11: 221-225
PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that nitric oxide, synthesized by inducible nitric oxide synthase, causes degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in an animal model of glaucoma. METHODS: Rats with unilateral, chronic, moderately elevated intraocular pressure were treated orally with L-N6-(1-iminoethyl)lysine 5-tetrazole amide, a prodrug of an inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase. The loss of retinal ganglion cells was quantitated as an indicator of glaucomatous damage. RESULTS: At the end of seven months, rat eyes with chronic, moderately elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) lost approximately 20,000 retinal ganglion cells. Treatment with L-N6-(1-iminoethyl)lysine 5-tetrazole amide for seven months completely prevented the loss of retinal ganglion cells in eyes with chronic, moderately elevated IOP. When treatment with L-N6-(1-iminoethyl)lysine 5-tetrazole amide was delayed and started after three months of chronic, moderately elevated IOP, further loss of retinal ganglion cells was prevented. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacological neuroprotection with a selective inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase may be useful for the treatment of glaucoma.
Dr. A.H. Neufeld, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Box 8096, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. neufeld@vision.wustl.edu
Classification:
11.8 Neuroprotection (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)