Abstract
Injection of the glutamate agonist N-methyl-D-aspartate into the vitreous body of the rat eye resulted in a number of morphological changes in the retina. Most apparent was a dramatic reduction in the density and sizes of neurons accompanied by a decrease in amyloid precursor protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity. Cell counts revealed that 81% of ganglion cells and 43% of non-ganglion cells were lost as a result of the treatment. However, in animals treated with the antioxidant ergothioneine, these figures dropped to 44 and 31%, respectively. Thus, ergothioneine appears to be neuroprotective in this system and the data suggest that antioxidants may provide a useful means of modulating glutamate-based toxicity.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / drug effects
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Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism
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Animals
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Antioxidants / pharmacology*
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Antioxidants / therapeutic use
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Astrocytes / drug effects
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Astrocytes / metabolism
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Cell Count
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Cell Death / drug effects*
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Cell Death / physiology
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Disease Models, Animal
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Down-Regulation / drug effects
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Down-Regulation / physiology
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Ergothioneine / pharmacology*
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Ergothioneine / therapeutic use
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Female
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / drug effects
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
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Glutamic Acid / metabolism
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N-Methylaspartate / antagonists & inhibitors
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Neurodegenerative Diseases / drug therapy*
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Neurodegenerative Diseases / metabolism
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Neurodegenerative Diseases / physiopathology
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Neurons / drug effects*
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Neurons / metabolism
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Neurons / pathology
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Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
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Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use
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Neurotoxins / antagonists & inhibitors
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Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
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Oxidative Stress / physiology
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / drug effects
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism
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Retina / drug effects
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Retina / metabolism
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Retina / physiopathology
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Retinal Ganglion Cells / drug effects
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Retinal Ganglion Cells / metabolism
Substances
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Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
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Antioxidants
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
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Neuroprotective Agents
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Neurotoxins
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
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Glutamic Acid
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N-Methylaspartate
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Ergothioneine