Forskolin eye drops improve retinal damage from ischemia/reperfusion.

PURPOSE

To determine whether forskolin, a protein kinase A (PKA) agonist, eye drops could reduce neuronal and vascular damage after exposure to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).

METHODS

C57BL/6J mice were exposed to the I/R protocol. A group of mice were given forskolin eye drops (10 μM) daily. Two days after I/R, neuronal measurements were performed, while vascular measurements were performed at 10 days post-I/R. Western blotting was conducted to investigate whether forskolin could increase PKA levels and reduce the levels of inflammatory mediators.

RESULTS

Forskolin statistically significantly increased PKA levels, but not exchange protein activated by cAMP 1 (Epac1). The forskolin eye drops also reduced neuronal and vascular damage compared to I/R alone. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1-β (IL-1β) levels were statistically significantly reduced after administration of forskolin eye drops compared to I/R alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Forskolin eye drops were protective against I/R. The findings offer a new therapeutic for local delivery.