Effects of Y-39983, a selective Rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor, on blood flow in optic nerve head in rabbits and axonal regeneration of retinal ganglion cells in rats

Purpose: To investigate the effects of Y-39983, a selective Rho-associated coiled coil-forming protein kinase inhibitor, on blood flow in the optic nerve head (ONH) in rabbits and axonal regeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in rats.

Methods: Blood flow in ONH was measured by the laser speckle method after topical administration of 0.05% Y-39983 solution or its vehicle in rabbit eyes. To investigate the effects of Y-39983 on axonal regeneration of RGCs, RGCs purified from rat eyes were cultured with or without 10 μM Y-39983 and morphologically observed by phase-contrast microscopy. Moreover, the effects of intravitreal administration of Y-39983 were evaluated using an in vivo model of axotomized RGCs in peripheral nerve-grafted rats.

Results: Topical administration of 0.05% Y-39983 solution significantly increased blood flow in ONH compared with the vehicle group in rabbits. Maximum increase in blood flow in the 0.05% Y-39983 group was 122.84 ± 5.98 % (Mean ± S.E.) at 90 minutes after administration compared with before administration. Neurites in rat RGCs treated with 10 μM Y-39983 were extended compared with those without Y-39983 treatment of RGCs in vitro. Y-39983 dose-dependently increased the number of RGCs with regenerating axons in vivo. The numbers of RGCs with regenerating axons in 10 and 100 μM Y-39983-treated rats were 99.3 ± 10.5 and 169.5 ± 43.3 cells/mm(2) (Mean ± S.D.), respectively, and significantly increased compared with those in saline-treated rats (43.3 ± 6.0 cells/mm(2)).

Conclusion: Y-39983 may be a candidate drug not only for lowering of IOP but also for increasing of blood flow in ONH in the treatment of glaucoma. Moreover, Y-39983 may have therapeutic potential for axonal regeneration of RGCs in the treatment of diseases with degenerating axons of RGCs including glaucoma, although improvements of formulation or route of administration are needed in order to reach an effective concentration in retina.