AUTHOR=Gao Feng-Juan , Zhang Sheng-Hai , Xu Ping , Yang Bo-Qi , Zhang Rong , Cheng Yun , Zhou Xu-Jiao , Huang Wan-Jing , Wang Min , Chen Jun-Yi , Sun Xing-Huai , Wu Ji-Hong 

TITLE=Quercetin Declines Apoptosis, Ameliorates Mitochondrial Function and Improves Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival and Function in In Vivo Model of Glaucoma in Rat and Retinal Ganglion Cell Culture In Vitro

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2017.00285

DOI=10.3389/fnmol.2017.00285

ISSN=1662-5099

ABSTRACT=<p>Glaucoma is a progressive neuropathy characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Strategies that delay or halt RGC loss have been recognized as potentially beneficial for rescuing vision in glaucoma patients. Quercetin (Qcn) is a natural and important dietary flavonoid compound, widely distributed in fruits and vegetables. Mounting evidence suggests that Qcn has numerous neuroprotective effects. However, whether Qcn exerts neuroprotective effects on RGC in glaucoma is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of Qcn against RGC damage in a rat chronic ocular hypertension (COHT) model <italic>in</italic><italic>vivo</italic> and hypoxia-induced primary cultured RGC damage <italic>in vitro</italic>, and we further explored the underlying neuroprotective mechanisms. We found that Qcn not only improved RGC survival and function from a very early stage of COHT <italic>in</italic><italic>vivo</italic>, it promoted the survival of hypoxia-treated primary cultured RGCs <italic>in</italic><italic>vitro</italic> via ameliorating mitochondrial function and preventing mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Our findings suggest that Qcn has direct protective effects on RGCs that are independent of lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP). Qcn may be a promising therapeutic agent for improving RGC survival and function in glaucomatous neurodegeneration.</p>