Published in:
01-11-2016 | Basic Science
Comparison of hyperbaric oxygen versus iloprost treatment in an experimental rat central retinal artery occlusion model
Published in: Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology | Issue 11/2016
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Purpose
Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is one of the serious ophthalmological emergencies with poor visual prognosis. Iloprost is a stable prostacyclin analogue and has prominent anti-edema, anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, and antiagregant effects. The main objective of this work was to investigate iloprost as an alternative agent versus hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) in the treatment of CRAO.
Methods
Twenty-eight healthy Wistar albino male rats were randomly assigned into control (n = 7, sham operation), HBO (n = 7), iloprost (n = 7), and sham groups (n = 7). CRAO model was created through optic nerve exploration and ligation. Full-thickness retina (FTR), outer nuclear layer (ONL), inner nuclear layer (INL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness were measured on Hematoxylin/Eosin (H&E) stained retinal sections and immunohistochemical analysis including terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotindeoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay was performed to determine the apoptotic index (AI).
Results
AI values of HBO (0.204 ± 0.067) and iloprost (0.197 ± 0.052) groups were significantly lower than sham (0.487 ± 0.046) group (p < 0.001). Any significant difference was found between the HBO and iloprost groups in terms of AI (p = 0.514). A statistically significant increase in thickness of FTR, ONL, INL and GCL was detected in HBO, iloprost and sham groups compared to the control group (p = 0.002). FTR, ONL, INL and GCL thickness were significantly thinner in HBO and iloprost groups than in the sham group (p = 0.002). A significant lesser increase was observed in all the retinal layers thickness in iloprost group versus HBO group (p = 0.002) except for INL (p = 0.665).
Conclusions
The study results demonstrated anti-edema, neuroprotective, and anti-apoptotic effects of iloprost quantitatively; thus, iloprost may be a beneficial alternative agent in the treatment of CRAO.