J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2000 Apr;41(4):863-870.

Glutamate Levels in the Vitreous Body of an In Vivo Model of Optic Nerve Ischemia

• Choung HK
• Kim TW
• Park KH
• Kim DM

Abstract

To explore the possibility that an elevation of glutamate in the vitreous might be associated with the microvascular compromise of the optic nerve, endothelin1(ET-1)in a dosage of 0.1 microgram/day(5 rabbits)or balanced salt solution(4 rabbits) was delivered to the perineural region of the anterior optic nerve by osmotically driven minipumps for 2 weeks. Vitreous specimens were obtained and the iramino acid contents were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. There was a statistically significant elevation(p<0.05)in the vitreous concentrations of glutamate(264%+/-41%), aspartate(269%+/-31%)and glycine(232%+/-26%)in the eyes subjected to ET-1 when compared with that of eyes in control group. Administration of ET-1 to the microvasculature of the optic nerve leads to the elevation of glutamate, aspartate, and glycine concentrations in the vitreous. These results suggest that the increase of excitatory amino acids in the vitreous may play a role in the neuronal damage induced by optic nerve ischemia.

Keyword

Aspartate; Endothelin-1; Glutamate; Optic nerve ischemia

MeSH Terms

Aspartic Acid
Chromatography, Liquid
Endothelin-1
Excitatory Amino Acids
Glutamic Acid*
Glycine
Microvessels
Neurons
Optic Nerve*
Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic*
Vitreous Body*
Aspartic Acid
Endothelin-1
Excitatory Amino Acids
Glutamic Acid
Glycine