Effect of hydrogen ‐rich saline on melanopsin after acute blue light‐induced retinal damage in rats

This study observed the protective effects of hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) treatment on a rat model of blue light-induced retinal injury. Rats were exposed to blue light for 48  h to damage the retina and treated with HRS for various duration. Western blot, PCR, and immunofluorescence analyzed changes in melanopsin gene and protein expression as well as ipRGC morphology and function assessed by pERG. Acute blue light exposure reduced melanopsin gene and protein levels an d ipRGC function, while HRS accelerated their self-recovery over two weeks, increasing melanopsin expression and improving ipRGC function. AbstractExcessive exposure to blue light can cause retinal damage. Hydrogen-rich saline (HRS), one of the hydrogen therapies, has been demonstrated to be effective in eye photodamage, but the effect on the expression of melanopsin in intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) is unknown. In this study, we used a rat model of light-induced retinal injury to observe the expression of melanopsin after HRS treatment and to determine the effect of HRS on retinal ganglion cell protection. Adult SD rats were exposed to blue light (48  h) and treated with HRS for 0, 3, 7, and 14 days. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB) were performed to find the expression of genes and proteins, respectively. The function of retinal ipRGCs was measured by pattern-evoked electroretinography (pERG). The numb er and morphological changes of m...
Source: Photochemistry and Photobiology - Category: Science Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research