A Mizota1, E Sato, M Taniai, E Adachi-Usami, M Nishikawa. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Chiba University School of Medicine. Central Research Institute Maruha Corp., Tsukuba, Japan. mizota@ophthalm.m.chiba-u.ac.jp
Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate the role played by docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the retina, and more specifically, its ability to protect the retina from kainic acid (KA)-induced retinal damage. METHODS: Three-week-old female Wistar rats were used. DHA (1000 mg/kg per day) was fed to the rats for 7, 14, and 28 days, and the concentrations of DHA and arachidonic acid (AA) in the retina and serum were measured. In another group of rats, the right eyes were injected intravitreally with 3.12 nanomoles KA after DHA supplementation for 14 days. Electroretinograms (ERGs) elicited by different stimulus intensities were recorded before and on days 1, 7, and 14 after the KA injection. The amplitudes and implicit times of the a- and b-waves were compared. The number of cells in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and inner nuclear layer (INL) were compared by histopathologic examination. RESULTS: The concentration of DHA in the serum and retina increased after DHA supplementation. The concentration of AA in serum decreased with DHA supplementation, but the concentration of AA in retina did not show any significant change. The b-waves of the ERGs recorded after KA injection were significantly attenuated in both groups of rats. However, the attenuation was significantly less in the DHA-supplemented rats than in gum arabic-supplemented control rats. The numbers of cells in the INL and GCL were significantly higher in DHA-supplemented rats. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that DHA supplementation can partially counteract KA neurotoxicity in the rat retina. DHA may play a role in modulating neuronal excitability by reducing KA-induced responses in the retina.
PURPOSE: To investigate the role played by docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the retina, and more specifically, its ability to protect the retina from kainic acid (KA)-induced retinal damage. METHODS: Three-week-old female Wistar rats were used. DHA (1000 mg/kg per day) was fed to the rats for 7, 14, and 28 days, and the concentrations of DHA and arachidonic acid (AA) in the retina and serum were measured. In another group of rats, the right eyes were injected intravitreally with 3.12 nanomoles KA after DHA supplementation for 14 days. Electroretinograms (ERGs) elicited by different stimulus intensities were recorded before and on days 1, 7, and 14 after the KA injection. The amplitudes and implicit times of the a- and b-waves were compared. The number of cells in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and inner nuclear layer (INL) were compared by histopathologic examination. RESULTS: The concentration of DHA in the serum and retina increased after DHA supplementation. The concentration of AA in serum decreased with DHA supplementation, but the concentration of AA in retina did not show any significant change. The b-waves of the ERGs recorded after KA injection were significantly attenuated in both groups of rats. However, the attenuation was significantly less in the DHA-supplemented rats than in gum arabic-supplemented control rats. The numbers of cells in the INL and GCL were significantly higher in DHA-supplemented rats. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that DHA supplementation can partially counteract KA neurotoxicity in the rat retina. DHA may play a role in modulating neuronal excitability by reducing KA-induced responses in the retina.
Authors: Joseph M Harrison; Randolph D Glickman; Charles S Ballentine; Yolanda Trigo; Melanie A Pena; Pearl Kurian; Laura K Najvar; Neeru Kumar; Ankit H Patel; William E Sponsel; John R Graybill; William C Lloyd; Margaret M Miller; Gianmarco Paris; Fernando Trujillo; Aaron Miller; Robert Melendez Journal: Doc Ophthalmol Date: 2005-01 Impact factor: 2.379
Authors: Gao Yang; Deng Xin-Guo; Li Na; Luo Guang-Wei; Peter C K Chung Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2011-05-18 Impact factor: 2.629