Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Histology

Background: Retinal ischemia is a common clinical entity and it is a common cause of visual impairment and blindness. Thus, increased understanding of the events involved in ischemic neuronal injury can provide us with clinically effective treatments for many retinal diseases. Aim of the work: This study was conducted to demonstrate the histopathological effects of the induced retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury in the albino rats and the potential protective effect of latanoprost eye drops. Material and Methods: Fourty two adult male albino rats were divided into two groups: control group (n=12) and experimental group (n=30), further subdivided into 6 subgroups. Ischemia was induced in the left eyes of the first three subgroups by increasing the intra-ocular pressure; they were sacrificed after 60 minutes, 24 hours and 7 days respectively. Latanoprost was applied to both eyes of the animals of the other three subgroups once daily for 1 week, at the end of the treatment, ischemia was induced in the left eyes and they were sacrificed as discussed before. The retinal tissues were processed and investigated by light and electron microscopy. Morphometric studies followed by statistical analysis of the number of the cells in the GCL were performed.Results: The untreated subgroups showed marked morphological changes demonstrated in the different retinal layers. The PRL showed separation, vacuoles and degeneration. The ONL and INL showed marked nuclear condensation and separation between nuclei. Vaculations &disruption could be seen in the IPL, GCL, NFL and ILM. The treated subgroups showed more or less preserved retinal layers

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