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Abstract #5565 Published in IGR 2-1
Elevated glutamate levels in the vitreous body of an in vivo model of optic nerve ischemia
Kim TW; Kang KB; Choung HK; Park KH; Kim DMArchives of Ophthalmology 2000; 118: 533-536
OBJECTIVE: To explore the possibility that an elevation of glutamate levels in the vitreous might be associated with the microvascular compromise of the optic nerve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endothelin-1, 0.1 μg/d (five rabbits), or balanced salt solution (four rabbits) was delivered to the perineural region of the anterior optic nerve by osmotically driven minipumps for two weeks. Vitreous specimens were obtained, and their amino acid contents were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant elevation in the mean ± SEM vitreous concentrations of glutamate (264±41%; p=0.04), aspartate (269±31%; p=0.04), and glycine (232±26%; p=0.04) in the eyes subjected to endothelin-1 when compared with the fellow control eyes. CONCLUSION: Administration of endothelin-1 to the microvasculature of the optic nerve leads to elevation of glutamate, aspartate, and glycine concentrations in the vitreous. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The increase of excitatory amino acids in the vitreous might be associated with various ischemic processes of the optic nerve, including glaucomatous optic neuropathy, and may play a role in the neuronal damage that is seen in these diseases.
Dr. T.W. Kim, Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
Classification:
1.3 Pathogenesis (Part of: 1 General aspects)
