The Use of a Novel Antioxidant Compound, WN1316, for the Treatment of Experimental Glaucoma

Abstract

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, characterized by the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Accumulating evidence has revealed that in addition to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), oxidative stress also plays a significant role in glaucomatous pathology. In this respect, this thesis assessed whether a novel antioxidant compound, WN1316, could offer functional and structural protection of RGCs in the magnetic microbead mouse model of glaucoma. WN1316 has been previously shown to protect against oxidative stress-induced cell death in other disease models. Sustained IOP elevations were achieved in microbead-injected eyes; however, confounding lens and corneal damage developed, complicating the disease phenotype and the interpretation of WN1316's effects on RGCs. Trends in the electrophysiological and histological data were therefore not consistent and the therapeutic efficacy of WN1316 remains inconclusive. Future studies should thus refine the glaucomatous disease model to better assess the clinical potential of WN1316.