TY - JOUR
T1 - Preservation of retinal morphology and functions in Royal College Surgeons rat by nilvadipine, a CA2+ antagonist
AU - Yamazaki, Hitoshi
AU - Ohguro, Hiroshi
AU - Maeda, Tadao
AU - Maruyama, Ikuyo
AU - Takano, Yoshiko
AU - Metoki, Tomomi
AU - Nakazawa, Mitsuru
AU - Sawada, Hajime
AU - Dezawa, Mari
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Purpose. The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat is the most extensively studied animal model for understanding the molecular pathology in inherited retinal degeneration, such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the pharmacologic effects of several Ca2+ antagonists on the retinal degeneration of RCS rats. Methods. Several Ca2+ antagonists, diltiazem, nicardipine, nilvadipine, and nifedipine, were intraperitoneally administered and retinal morphology and functions analyzed. Results. Among the Ca2+ antagonists, only intraperitoneally administered nilvadipine preserved retinal morphology and electroretinogram responses in RCS rats during the initial stage of retinal degeneration. Studies using immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis revealed significant enhancement of rhodopsin kinase and αA-crystallin expression and suppression of caspase 1 and 2 expression in the retina of nilvadipine-treated rats. Conclusions. These data suggest that nilvadipine is beneficial for the preservation of photoreceptor cells in RCS rats and can be used to treat some patients with RP.
AB - Purpose. The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat is the most extensively studied animal model for understanding the molecular pathology in inherited retinal degeneration, such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the pharmacologic effects of several Ca2+ antagonists on the retinal degeneration of RCS rats. Methods. Several Ca2+ antagonists, diltiazem, nicardipine, nilvadipine, and nifedipine, were intraperitoneally administered and retinal morphology and functions analyzed. Results. Among the Ca2+ antagonists, only intraperitoneally administered nilvadipine preserved retinal morphology and electroretinogram responses in RCS rats during the initial stage of retinal degeneration. Studies using immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis revealed significant enhancement of rhodopsin kinase and αA-crystallin expression and suppression of caspase 1 and 2 expression in the retina of nilvadipine-treated rats. Conclusions. These data suggest that nilvadipine is beneficial for the preservation of photoreceptor cells in RCS rats and can be used to treat some patients with RP.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 11923229
AN - SCOPUS:0036207337
SN - 0146-0404
VL - 43
SP - 919
EP - 926
JO - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
JF - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
IS - 4
ER -