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Purpose: To investigate the effects of intravitreal neuropeptide Y (NPY) treatment following acute retinal ischaemia in an in vivo porcine model. In addition, we evaluated the vasoconstrictive potential of NPY on porcine retinal arteries ex vivo. Methods: Twelve pigs underwent induced retinal ischaemia by elevated intraocular pressure clamping the ocular perfusion pressure at 5 mmHg for 2 hr followed by intravitreal injection of NPY or vehicle. After 4 weeks, retinas were evaluated functionally by standard and global-flash multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) and histologically by thickness of retinal layers and number of ganglion cells. Additionally, the vasoconstrictive effects of NPY and its involved receptors were tested using wire myographs and NPY receptor antagonists on porcine retinal arteries. Results: Intravitreal injection of NPY after induced ischaemia caused a significant reduction in the mean induced component (IC) amplitude ratio (treated/normal eye) compared to vehicle-treated eyes. This reduction was accompanied by histological damage, where NPY treatment reduced the mean thickness of inner retinal layers and number of ganglion cells. In retinal arteries, NPY-induced vasoconstriction to a plateau of approximately 65% of potassium-induced constriction. This effect appeared to be mediated via Y1 and Y2, but not Y5. Conclusion: In seeming contrast to previous in vitro studies, intravitreal NPY treatment caused functional and histological damage compared to vehicle after a retinal ischaemic insult. Furthermore, we showed for the first time that NPY induces Y1- and Y2- but not Y5-mediated vasoconstriction in retinal arteries. This constriction could explain the worsening in vivo effect induced by NPY treatment following an ischaemic insult and suggests that future studies on exploring the neuroprotective effects of NPY might focus on other receptors than Y1 and Y2. (Less)

PURPOSE: Even though retinal vascular changes following ischaemia have been poorly understood, the upregulation of vasoconstrictive endothelin-1 (ET-1) receptors (ETA/ETB) following global cerebral ischaemia has been described. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not the MEK/ERK1/2 pathway is involved in the observed upregulation and whether specific MEK/ERK1/2 inhibitors U0126 and trametinib can prevent it.METHODS: The aim was also to localize ETAand ETBreceptors using immunohistochemistry in both fresh rat ophthalmic arteries and after 24-hr organ culture and study the receptors functionally using myography. Pig retinal arteries also underwent 24-hr organ culture to validate similar responses across species and the retinal vasculature.RESULTS: Results showed that following organ culture there is a significant increase in ET-1-mediated vasoconstriction, in particular via the ETBreceptor. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry revealed a clear increase in pERK in the smooth muscle cells of rat ophthalmic artery. U0126 and trametinib were successful in attenuating the functional vasoconstriction in both rat and pig, as well as restoring immunofluorescence of pERK to fresh levels and counteracting ETBexpression in the smooth muscle cells of the rat ophthalmic artery.CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show that the MEK/ERK1/2 pathway in responsible for the increase in functional vasoconstriction via ET-1 receptor in rat ophthalmic and pig retinal arteries. Furthermore, this study is the first to suggest a way of inhibiting and preventing such an increase. With these results, we suggest a novel approach in retinal ischaemia therapy. (Less)