Neuroprotective Potential of Vitamin C Identified for Glaucoma Treatment
New Research Highlights the Potential of Vitamin C in Protecting Vision for Glaucoma Patients
A Striatech .pdf Case Study
OptoDrum, a novel device for in vivo assessment of visual performance in mice, was crucial in advancing the glaucoma treatment research.
Song Li and Tatjana C. Jakobs from Harvard’s Schepens Eye Research Institute have discovered that Vitamin C has potential neuroprotective properties that could aid in treating glaucoma, a neurodegenerative disease characterized by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death and increased intraocular pressure (IOP).
Li and Jakobs’ study identifies Vitamin C as a substance that enhances the survival of RGCs by upregulating the expression of the protein SPP1 (secreted phosphoprotein 1) in astrocytes, a type of supportive brain cell. In mouse models of glaucoma, Vitamin C administration led to improved visual function, increased RGC survival, and reduced IOP. These benefits were observed even in mice lacking the SPP1 gene, suggesting that Vitamin C may also have SPP1-independent effects. For humans, the research suggests that increased Vitamin C intake could support glaucoma treatment, particularly for patients with suboptimal dietary Vitamin C.
The OptoDrum played a crucial role in this breakthrough glaucoma research. This device allowed accurate assess the visual function of each eye independently in their mouse models of glaucoma. By using the OptoDrum, the researchers were able to demonstrate that injecting microbeads into one eye increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and specifically worsened vision in that eye, mimicking glaucoma. The OptoDrum also enabled them to observe the positive effects of Vitamin C treatment on the visual function and survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The device’s ability to provide precise behavioral measures of visual impairment and recovery was essential in confirming that Vitamin C has neuroprotective effects, making it an invaluable tool in advancing glaucoma treatment research.
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