Alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist promotes retinal ganglion cell function via modulating GABAergic presynaptic activity in a chronic glaucomatous model.

ABSTRACT: Alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) agonists can prevent glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). However, the neuroprotective effects and the mechanism of action of PNU-282987, an α7-nAChR agonist, in a chronic in vivo rat glaucoma model are poorly understood. We found that elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) downregulated retinal α7-nAChR expression. Electroretinography revealed that the amplitude of the photopic negative response (PhNR) decreased in parallel with the loss of RGCs caused by elevated IOP. PNU-282987 enhanced RGC viability and function and decreased terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive signals in RGCs. Patch-clamp recordings revealed differences in the baseline frequencies and decay

SUBMITTER: Zhou X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5431927 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature