Protective effects of a composition of Chinese herbs-Gurigumu-13 on retinal ganglion cell apoptosis in DBA/2J glaucoma mouse model.

AIM

To explore the concrete mechanism of a Mongolian compound medicine-Gurigumu-13 (GRGM) for glaucoma treatment.

METHODS

DBA/2J mice, as glaucoma models, were intragastric administrated with GRGM to study the effect of GRGM on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The loss of RGCs was evaluated with the number of RGCs and axons. The expression of the target protein of RGCs or mouse retinas was determined by Western blot. The relative content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was examined by ELISA assay.

RESULTS

GRGM distinctly improved retina damage increasing the number of neurons, RGCs and axons in a concentration dependent manner. Meanwhile, GRGM obviously decreased the high level of MDA and the expression of oxidative stress-related proteins in retinas of DBA/2J mice, but promoted the expression of antioxidant proteins. Additionally, GRGM also significantly inhibited the protein expression of Bip and Chop, which were markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

GRGM have obvious protective effects on RGCs in DBA/2J mice, and increase the number of RGCs and axons inhibiting oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress.