Protective effect of carnosic acid, a pro-electrophilic compound, in models of oxidative stress and light-induced retinal degeneration.

Purpose: The herb rosemary has been reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. We have previously shown that carnosic acid (CA), present in rosemary extract, crosses the blood-brain barrier to exert neuroprotective effects by upregulating endogenous antioxidant enzymes via the Nrf2 transcriptional pathway. Here we investigated the antioxidant and neuroprotective activity of CA in retinal cell lines exposed to oxidative stress and in a rat model of light-induced retinal degeneration (LIRD).

Efficacy and safety of memantine treatment for reduction of changes associated with experimental glaucoma in monkey, I: Functional measures.

Purpose: To determine, using electrophysiological measures of visual system function, whether oral daily dosing of memantine is both safe and effective to reduce the injury associated with experimental glaucoma in primates.

Methods: Argon laser treatment of the anterior chamber angle was used to induce chronic ocular hypertension (COHT) in the right eye of 18 macaque monkeys. Nine animals were orally dosed daily with 4 mg/kg memantine while the other nine animals received an oral dose of vehicle only.

Alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist protects retinal function after acute retinal ischemic injury in the rat.

Alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists have previously been shown to enhance neuronal survival in an optic nerve mechanical injury model and to protect photoreceptors in a light-induced degeneration model. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist in a pressure-induced retinal ischemia model. Brown-Norway rats were treated systemically or topically with alpha-2 adrenoceptor specific agonist brimonidine.