Cassie L. Rayner

The effects and interactions of GABAergic and dopaminergic agents in the prevention of form deprivation myopia by brief periods of normal vision

Intravitreal injections of GABA antagonists, dopamine agonists and brief periods of normal vision have been shown separately to inhibit form-deprivation myopia (FDM). Our study had three aims: (i) establish whether GABAergic agents modify the myopia protective effect of normal vision, (ii) investigate the receptor sub-type specificity of any observed effect, and (iii) consider an interaction with the dopamine (DA) system. Prior to the period of normal vision GABAergic agents were applied either (i) individually, (ii) in combination with other GABAergic agents (an agonist with an antagonist), or (iii) in combination with DA agonists and antagonists. Water injections were given to groups not receiving drug treatments so that all experimental eyes received intravitreal injections. As shown previously, constant form-deprivation resulted in high myopia and when diffusers were removed for 2 h per day the period of normal vision greatly reduced the FDM that developed. GABA agonists inhibited the protective effect of normal vision whereas antagonists had the opposite effect. GABAA/C agonists and D2 DA antagonists when used in combination were additive in suppressing the protective effect of normal vision. A D2 DA agonist restored some of the protective effect of normal vision that was inhibited by a GABA agonist (muscimol). The protective effect of normal vision against form-deprivation is modifiable by both the GABAergic and DAergic pathways.

Dynamic, in vivo, real-time detection of retinal oxidative status in a model of elevated intraocular pressure using a novel, reversibly responsive, profluorescent nitroxide probe.

Changes to the redox status of biological systems have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of disorders including cancer, Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and neurodegeneration. In times of metabolic stress e.g. ischaemia/reperfusion, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production overwhelms the intrinsic antioxidant capacity of the cell, damaging vital cellular components. The ability to quantify ROS changes in vivo, is therefore essential to understanding their biological role. Here we evaluate the suitability of a novel reversible profluorescent probe containing a redox-sensitive nitroxide moiety (methyl ester tetraethylrhodamine nitroxide, ME-TRN), as an in vivo, real-time reporter of retinal oxidative status. The reversible nature of the probes response offers the unique advantage of being able to monitor redox changes in both oxidizing and reducing directions in real time. After intravitreal administration of the ME-TRN probe, we induced ROS production in rat retina using an established model of complete, acute retinal ischaemia followed by reperfusion. After restoration of blood flow, retinas were imaged using a Micron III rodent fundus fluorescence imaging system, to quantify the redox-response of the probe. Fluorescent intensity declined during the first 60 min of reperfusion. The ROS-induced change in probe fluorescence was ameliorated with the retinal antioxidant, lutein. Fluorescence intensity in non-Ischemia eyes did not change significantly. This new probe and imaging technology provide a reversible and real-time response to oxidative changes and may allow the in vivo testing of antioxidant therapies of potential benefit to a range of diseases linked to oxidative stress.

Comparative effects of posterior eye cup tissues from myopic and hyperopic chick eyes on cultured scleral fibroblasts

The role of individual ocular tissues in mediating changes to the sclera during myopia development is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of retina, RPE and choroidal tissues from myopic and hyperopic chick eyes on the DNA and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content in cultures of chick scleral fibroblasts. Primary cultures of fibroblastic cells expressing vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin were established in serum-supplemented growth medium from 8-day-old normal chick sclera. The fibroblasts were subsequently co-cultured with posterior eye cup tissue (full thickness containing retina, RPE and choroid) obtained from untreated eyes and eyes wearing translucent diffusers (form-deprivation myopia, FDM) or -15D lenses (lens-induced myopia, LIM) for 3 days (post-hatch day 5-8) (n = 6 per treatment group). The effect of tissues (full thickness and individual retina, RPE, and choroid layers) from -15D (LIM) versus +15D (lens-induced hyperopia, LIH) treated eyes was also determined. Refraction changes in the direction predicted by the visual treatments were confirmed by retinoscopy prior to tissue collection. Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and DNA content of the scleral fibroblast cultures were measured using GAG and PicoGreen assays. There was no significant difference in the effect of full thickness tissue from either FDM or LIM treated eyes on DNA and GAG content of scleral fibroblasts (DNA 8.9 ± 2.6 μg and 8.4 ± 1.1 μg, p = 0.12; GAG 11.2 ± 0.6 μg and 10.1 ± 1.0 μg, p = 0.34). Retina from LIM eyes did not alter fibroblast DNA or GAG content compared to retina from LIH eyes (DNA 27.2 ± 1.7 μg versus 23.2 ± 1.5 μg, p = 0.21; GAG 28.1 ± 1.7 μg versus. 28.7 ± 1.2 μg, p = 0.46). Similarly, the choroid from LIH and LIM eyes did not produce a differential effect on DNA content (DNA LIM 46.9 ± 6.4 versus LIH 51.5 ± 4.7 μg, p = 0.31). In contrast, scleral fibroblast DNA was greater in co-culture with RPE from LIM eyes than the empty basket and DNA content less for co-culture with RPE from LIH eyes (LIM: 72.4 ± 6.3 μg versus empty basket: 46.03 ± 1.0 μg; p = 0.0005 and LIH: 27.9 ± 2.3 μg versus empty basket: 46.03 ± 1.0 μg; p = 0.0004). GAG content was lower with RPE from LIM eyes (LIM: 27.7 ± 0.9 μg versus empty basket: 29.5 ± 0.8 μg, p = 0.021) and was higher with RPE from LIH eyes (LIH: 33.7 ± 1.9 μg versus empty basket: 29.5 ± 0.8 μg, p = 0.010). Choroid from LIM eyes induce a relative increase in scleral GAG content e.g. (LIM: 32.5 ± 0.7 μg versus empty basket: 29.5 ± 0.8 μg, p = 0.0004) while, choroid from LIH eyes induced a relative decrease in scleral GAG content (LIH: 18.9 ± 1.2 μg versus empty basket: 29.5 ± 0.8 μg, p = 0.0034). GAG content of cells in co-culture with choroid from LIM versus LIH treated eyes was significantly different (32.5 ± 0.7 μg versus 18.9 ± 1.2 μg respectively, p = 0.0002). In conclusion, these experiments provide an evidence for a directional growth signal that is present (and remains) in the ex-vivo RPE/choroid, but that does not remain in the ex-vivo retina. The identity of this factor(s) that can modify scleral cell DNA and GAG content requires further research.

Hemi-field and full-field form-deprivation induce timing changes in multifocal ERG responses in chick.

In animal models hemi‐field deprivation results in localised, graded vitreous chamber elongation and presumably deprivation induced localised changes in retinal processing. The aim of this research was to determine if there are variations in ERG responses across the retina in normal chick eyes and to examine the effect of hemi‐field and full‐field deprivation on ERG responses across the retina and at earlier times than have previously been examined electrophysiologically.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of hybrid nitroxide-based non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Dual-acting hybrid anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory agents were developed employing the principle of pharmacophore hybridization. Hybrid agents were synthesized by combining stable anti-oxidant nitroxides with conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Several of the hybrid nitroxide-NSAID conjugates displayed promising anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on two Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) cells (A549 and NCI-H1299) and in ameliorating oxidative stress induced in 661 W retinal cells. One ester-linked nitroxide-aspirin analogue (27) delivered better anti-inflammatory effects (cyclooxygenase inhibition) than the parent compound (aspirin), and also showed similar reactive oxygen scavenging activity to the anti-oxidant, Tempol. In addition, a nitroxide linked to the anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin (39) significantly ameliorated the effects of oxidative stress on 661 W retinal neurons at efficacies greater or equal to the anti-oxidant Lutein. Other examples of the hybrid conjugates displayed promising anti-cancer activity, as demonstrated by their inhibitory effects on the proliferation of A549 NSCLC cells.