Investigation of the Impact of Nerve Growth Factor Intravitreal Administration on Ganglion Cell Degeneration in an Experimental Model of Elevated Intraocular Pressure in Rabbits

摘要

Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) has been reported to possess beneficial therapeutic potential in optic neuropathies. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of NGF administration on the retinal alterations due to experimentally induced elevated intraocular pressure in rabbits. The increased intraocular pressure was induced in the right eyes of adult male New Zealand White rabbits by injection of 2% methylcellulose solution. NGF and VH groups (n = 9 animals per group) were treated with either right eye intraocular application of NGF or vehicle solution. The 2.5 S subunit NGF powder diluted in 10 μg normal saline was intravitreally injected on the 5 and 10th day after the induction of increased intraocular pressure. Control group (n = 4) consisted of the untreated left eyes of some animals belonging to the two first groups. Retinal Ganglion Cells density was assessed by immunohistochemical staining of the retina 20 days post-induction of the elevated intraocular pressure. Elevated intraocular pressure resulted in Retinal Ganglion Cells loss in the NGF and VH groups as compared with the controls. The number of Retinal Ganglion Cells was reduced in the NGF-treated group as compared with the VH group. These findings demonstrate that NGF administration in specific dosage and at different times following experimentally-induced increased intraocular pressure displays a protective role against Ganglion Cell layer degradation.