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Although a blockade or lack of N-type Ca(2+) channels has been reported to suppress neuronal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion in several animal models, information is still limited regarding the neuroprotective effects of a dual L/N-type Ca(2+) channel blocker, cilnidipine. We histologically examined the effects of cilnidipine on neuronal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion, intravitreous N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) (200nmol/eye) and intravitreous NOC12 (400nmol/eye), an nitric oxide donor, in the rat retina, and compared its effects with those of omega-conotoxin MV IIA, an N-type Ca(2+) channel blocker and amlodipine, an L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker. Morphometric evaluation at 7 days after ischemia-reperfusion showed that treatment with cilnidipine (100microg/kg, i.v. or 0.5pmol/eye, intravitreous injection) prior to ischemia dramatically reduced the retinal damage. Treatment with omega-conotoxin MV IIA before ischemia (0.1pmol/eye, intravitreous injection) significantly reduced the retinal damage. However, amlodipine (30-100microg/kg, i.v. or 0.1-1pmol/eye, intravitreous injection) did not show any protective effects. Treatment with cilnidipine (100microg/kg, i.v.) reduced the retinal damage induced by intravitreous NMDA, but not NOC12. These results suggest that cilnidipine reduces Ca(2+) influx via N-type Ca(2+) channels after NMDA receptors activation and then protects neurons against ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat retina in vivo. Cilnidipine may be useful as a therapeutic drug against retinal diseases which cause neuronal cell death, such as glaucoma and central retinal vessel occlusion.
Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. sakamotok@pharm.kitasato-u.ac.jp
11.8 Neuroprotection (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
5.1 Rodent (Part of: 5 Experimental glaucoma; animal models)
11.14 Investigational drugs; pharmacological experiments (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)