Quercetin protects the retina by reducing apoptosis due to ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of quercetin on apoptotic cell death induced by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the rat retina. Methods: Twenty-four rats were divided into four equal groups: control, ischemic, solvent, and quercetin. I/R injury was achieved by elevating the intraocular pressure above the perfusion pressure. Intraperitoneal injections of 20 mg/kg of quercetin and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were performed in the quercetin and solvent groups, respectively, immediately prior to I/R injury, and the researchers allowed for the retinas to be reperfused. Forty-eight hours after injury, the thicknesses of the retinal ganglion cell layer (RGCL), inner nuclear layer (INL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), and outer nuclear layer (ONL) were measured in all groups. Moreover, the numbers of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end-labeled [TUNEL (+)] cells and caspase-3 (+) cells in both INL and ONL were evaluated in all groups. Results: The administration of quercetin was found to reduce the thinning of all retinal layers. The mean thickness of INL in the quercetin and ischemic groups was 21 ± 5.6 µm and 16 ± 6.4 µm, respectively (P<0.05). Similarly, the mean thickness of ONL in the quercetin and ischemic groups was 50 ± 12.8 µm and 40 ± 8.7 µm, respectively (P<0.05). The antiapoptotic effect of quercetin in terms of reducing the numbers of both TUNEL (+) cells and caspase-3 (+) cells was significant in INL. The mean number of TUNEL (+) cells in INL in the ischemic and quercetin groups was 476.8 ± 45.6/mm 2 and 238.72 ± 251/mm², respectively (P<0.005). The mean number of caspase-3 (+) cells in INL of ischemic and quercetin groups was 633.6 ± 38.7/mm 2 and 342.4 ± 36.1/mm 2 , respectively (P<0.001). Conclusion:The use of quercetin may be beneficial in the treatment of retinal I/R injury because of its antiapoptotic effect on the retinal layers, particularly in INL.

Tissue Blood Flow in the Digestive Organs of Rats With Acute Pancreatitis After Corvitin Administration

“…Корвітин зберігає всі властивості кверцетину, тому він має потужні антиоксидантні властивості, які сприяють нормалізації функцій ендотелію судин і відновленню кровотоку в органах [9]. Сам кверцетин регулює в'язкість крові й плазми, вміст фібриногену й агрегації еритроцитів [10], проявляє антикоагуляційні й антизапальні властивості [11], є сильним антиапоптотичним засобом [12]. Він також викликає розширення кровоносних судин із залученням NO, водночас пригнічуючи син-тез і вивільнення ендотеліну-1 з ендотеліо-цитів [13].…”

Monoglucosyl rutin facilitates recovery from eyestrain in visual display terminal users: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study

“…MGR is a rutin-glucose conjugate, which is decomposed to rutin or quercetin by digestive enzymes in the small intestine and absorbed as quercetin in the serum [16]. In previous studies, rutin or quercetin showed neuroprotective effects on the rat retina [17,18], retinal function recovery [11,19], and ocular blood flow in animals [11,20]. In particular, quercetin improved dry eye symptoms in mice [21].…”

Protective effects of quercetin in a rodent model of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (rAION)

“…Furthermore, Qcn preserved the visual function, prevented apoptosis of RGC, decreased the macrophage/microglial infiltration in the ONs, and impeded the secondary RGC death. Qcn was administered by intraperitoneal, oral, or intravitreal injection on the retina as described previously [17,22,23]. However, based on the pharmacodynamic maintenance and prolonged exposure of Qcn on the retina, we selected the intravitreal injection as the mode of Qcn administration.…”