ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF FORSKOLIN DECREASES RETINAL DAMAGE AFTER EXPERIMENTAL INDUCTION OF OCULAR HYPERTENSION IN THE RAT

Purpose: The aim of the present work was to show the potential neuroprotective activity of forskolin, a receptor-independent activator of adenylate-cyclase, in an experimental model of ocular hypertension in the rat. Methods: Methylcellulose at 2% was injected into the anterior chamber of rat eyes to induce IOP elevation. Animals were either treated or not with forskolin (1 mg/Kg) in their diet. Results: Seven days after IOP elevation, rat retinas were evaluated for apoptosis (TUNEL and caspase 3) and iNOS. Forskolin treatment resulted in a reduced increase of IOP after methylcellulose injection, and a decreased production of iNOS, that resulted in a reduced expression of caspase 3 and TUNEL positive cells. Conclusion: The combined action on IOP and neuron survival suggests a neuroprotective activity of forskolin in glaucomatous neurodegenerative disease, in which elevated IOP is the main risk factor, but not the only determinant of the progressive death of retinal ganglion cells