PLoS ONE (Jan 2016)

Protective Effect of ALA in Crushed Optic Nerve Cat Retinal Ganglion Cells Using a New Marker RBPMS.

  • Yanling Wang,
  • Wenyao Wang,
  • Jessica Liu,
  • Xin Huang,
  • Ruixing Liu,
  • Huika Xia,
  • Nicholas C Brecha,
  • Mingliang Pu,
  • Jie Gao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0160309
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 8
p. e0160309

Abstract

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In this study we first sought to determine whether RNA-binding protein with multiple splicing (RBPMS) can serve as a specific marker for cat retina ganglion cells (RGCs) using retrograde labeling and immunohistochemistry staining. RBPM was then used as an RGC marker to study RGC survival after optic nerve crush (ONC) and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) treatment in cats. ALA treatment yielded a peak density of RBPMS-alpha cells within the peak isodensity zone (>60/mm2) which did not differ from ONC retinas. The area within the zone was significantly enlarged (control: 2.3%, ONC: 0.06%, ONC+ALA: 0.1%). As for the 10-21/mm2 zone, ALA treatment resulted in a significant increase in area (control: 34.5%, ONC: 12.1%, ONC+ALA: 35.9%). ALA can alleviate crush-induced RGC injury.