Purpose: To determine whether P7C3-A20 can inhibit the phosphorylation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), depress neuroinflammation, and protect retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of rats from optic nerve crush (ONC).
Methods: The left optic nerve was crushed, and 5.0 mg/kg/d of P7C3-A20, 1.0 mg/kg/d of rapamycin, or their vehicle was injected intraperitoneally for 3 consecutive days beginning 1 day before the ONC. The protective effects on the RGCs were determined by immunohistochemical staining for Tuj-1. The level of phosphorylated mTOR was determined by immunoblotting. The neuroinflammation in the optic nerve was determined by changes in the expression of CD68, TNF-α, MCP-1, and iNOS.
Results: The density of Tuj-1-stained cells in the control was 2010 ± 81.5/mm2 and 1842 ± 80.4/mm2 on days 7 and 14 after the sham operation. These levels were lower at 995 ± 122/mm2 and 450 ± 52.4/mm2 on days 7 and 14 after the ONC, respectively. Rapamycin and P7C3-A20 preserved the density at significantly higher levels on both days (P < 0.05, Scheffe test). The level of phosphorylated mTOR increased by 1.56-fold above the control level on day 7. Rapamycin and P7C3 significantly lowered the level of phosphorylated mTOR to 0.89-fold and 0.67-fold of the control, respectively. There was an accumulation of CD68+ cells that were immunoreactive to TNF-α at the crush site. The expression of MCP-1 and iNOS was increased chiefly in the astrocytes around the lesion. These inflammatory events were suppressed by both rapamycin and P7C3.
Conclusions: P7C3-A20 can inhibit mTOR phosphorylation in the crushed optic nerve, which may suppress neuroinflammation and preserve the RGCs.