OXFORD, England—Genistein can prevent ischaemia-induced damage to the retina, according to a new study (Ophthalmic Res. 2011;45:65-72. DOI: 10.1159/000313985). Researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, administered 10 mg/kg of genistein intraperitoneally one hour before and after induction of ischaemia by raising intraocular pressure (120 mm Hg) for 50 minutes. One week after induction of ischaemia, researchers examined whole retinas and the optic nerve for signs of damage.
Ischaemia significantly reduced ganglion cell proteins in the optic nerve and retina. Retinal Thy-1 (mRNA and protein) and NF-L (mRNA) were also reduced, while mRNAs of caspase 3, caspase 8, PARP and GFAP were increased. With the exception of the increase in GFAP and PARP protein/mRNA levels, genistein worked to significantly blunt the other changes in mRNAs and proteins. In addition, genistein treatment attenuated ischaemia-induced changes in the localization of choline acetyltransferase in the retina.
