Neuroprotective effect of atrial natriuretic peptide against NMDA-induced neurotoxicity in the rat retina.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) can regulate aqueous humor production in the eye and has recently been suggested to play some functional roles in the retina. It has also been reported that ANP increases tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA levels and intracellular dopamine levels in PC12 cells. The effect of ANP on TH levels and the role of ANP in retinal excitotoxicity remain unknown.

Nuclear factor-kappa B p65 in NMDA-induced retinal neurotoxicity.

Transcription factors of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB)/Rel family may be involved in neuronal cell death or survival. We examined the role of NF-kappaB p65 in N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced neurotoxicity in the rat retina. Western blot analysis showed that elevated levels of retinal NF-kappaB p65 protein at days 1 and 5 after intravitreal NMDA injection.

Involvement of RhoA and possible neuroprotective effect of fasudil, a Rho kinase inhibitor, in NMDA-induced neurotoxicity in the rat retina.

RhoA, a key protein involved in cytoskeleton regulation modulating neurogenesis and neural plasticity, has been implicated in a variety of cellular functions including the modulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activity. We examined its possible involvement in NMDA-induced excitotoxicity in the retina, and evaluated the neuroprotective effect of fasudil, a Rho kinase inhibitor, in this model of neurotoxicity. RhoA protein levels in NMDA-treated retinas were assessed by Western blot analysis and localized by immunohistochemistry.

N-methyl-D-aspartate induces phosphorylation of cAMP response element (CRE)-binding protein and increases DNA-binding activity of CRE in rat retina.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether an excitotoxic concentration of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) increases the expression of the phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (p-CREB) and the DNA-binding activity of the cAMP response element (CRE) in rat retina. Intravitreal injection of NMDA was performed in adult male Wistar rats. p-CREB protein levels in the retina were examined by Western blot analysis.

[Effect of various anti-glaucoma eyedrops on human corneal epithelial cells].

Purpose: To investigate the effects of antiglaucoma eyedrops and vehicles on the proliferation of human corneal epithelial cells.

Material And Methods: Seven eyedrops[prostaglandin F2 alpha analogs(2), beta blockers(40), topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor(1)], and six of the eyedrop vehicles, excluding that of Xalatan, were used. Anti-glaucoma eyedrops and vehicles were serially diluted 2-fold with culture medium(10-2,560 fold).

Neuroprotective effect of nitric oxide against NMDA-induced neurotoxicity in the rat retina is associated with tyrosine hydroxylase expression.

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) may affect dopaminergic cells, which contain tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis. To clarify the involvement of TH in the neuroprotective effects of nitric oxide (NO), we investigated whether NMDA alters TH mRNA and TH protein levels and whether NO inhibits NMDA-induced changes in the rat retina. Dopamine levels in the retina were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).