Glutamate receptor activation triggers OPA1 release and induces apoptotic cell death in ischemic rat retina.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Glutamate receptor activation-induced excitotoxicity has been hypothesized to cause retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in glaucoma and to link mitochondrial dysfunction in both acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders. However, the relationships among elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), glutamate receptor-mediated excitotoxicity, and mitochondrial dysfunction in glaucoma remains unknown. The goal of this study was to determine whether the N- methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor antagonist MK801 can block optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) release and subsequent apoptotic cell death, as well as whether acute IOP elevation triggers OPA1 release and alters OPA1 gene and protein expression in the rat retina after ischemia.

Methods

Sprague Dawley rats received injections

SUBMITTER: Ju WK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2613079 | biostudies-literature | 2008

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature