Experimental glaucoma induces alterations in mitochondrial dynamics in the primary visual cortex

HVOZDA ARANA, AILEN G.; CALTANA, LAURA; ADÁN AREAN, JUAN SANTIAGO; CHAO, JULIÁN; REIDES, CLAUDIA G.; LERNER, S. FABIAN; ÁLVAREZ, SILVIA; LASAGNI VITAR, ROMINA M.; FERREIRA, SANDRA M.

Buenos Aires

Workshop; REDOX BA 2023 Workshop on Redox Nutrition and Toxicology; 2023

Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, UBA

Background and aims: Glaucoma is the first irreversible cause of blindness worldwide and affects eye structures and brain areas related to the visual system. It is known that oxidative stress plays an important role in the development and progression of the disease. The aim of this work was to evaluate the mitochondrial dynamics in the primary visual cortex in a glaucoma model.Methods: Wistar rats, three-month old, were operated by cauterizing two of the episcleral veins in the left eye: glaucoma group (G n=8); whereas the control group (n=8) received a sham procedure. Seven days after surgery rats were euthanized, and the primary visual cortex was dissected. In the G group, both hemispheres were separated, the ipsilateral (GI) and contralateral (GC) (CICUAL FFyB n° 3314). We evaluated OPA-1 expression in mitochondrial fraction, DRP-1 expression in both mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions, and PGC-1α expression in primary visual cortex homogenates. Mitochondrial ultrastructure was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Results: GC and GI showed an increase of 47% and 58%, respectively, in OPA-1 expression in the mitochondrial fraction when compared to control (p