THERAPEUTIC USE OF CALCIUM ENTRY BLOCKERS IN RETINAL OR OPTIC NERVE DYSFUNCTION

摘要

Ischemia or edema of the retina or optic nerve results in retinal dysfunction. This retinal dysfunction can be associated with the activation of calcium channels and/or excitatory amino acid receptors. The prophylactic or therapeutic administration of compounds to block these processes can ameliorate or prevent retinal dysfunction. These compounds include the classes of calcium channel antagonists. Therapeutic treatment with compounds include dihydropyridines and diphenylipiperazines as calcium channel antagonists. Such compounds also exhibit a prophylactic effect to ischemia and edema of the retina or optic nerve. Rat models are provided for screening compounds capable of ameliorating retinal dysfunction. Particularly, calcium entry blockers and excitatory amino acid antagonists can be screened and the host eyes examined for the effect of the drugs. The model animal is a rat having a salt-inducible retinal dysfunction and/or a retinal dysfunction as a result of vascular occlusion resulting in ischemia.