Pitavastatin: Protection against Neuronal Retinal Damage Induced by Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats

Purpose: To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of pitavastatin against neuronal retinal damage induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Methods and Results: Ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats using ocular hypertension. Pitavastatin (0.1, 0.5, or 1.0 mg/kg) was given intravenously 12 hr or 5 min before, or 12 or 24 hr after the induction of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Morphometric and retrograde labeling analyses revealed neuroprotective effects when pitavastatin (0.5 mg/kg) was administered 5 min before-even 12 and 24 hr-after induction of ischemia-reperfusion injury. These effects depended on dose; protection was noted at pitavastatin concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mg/kg but not 0.1 mg/kg. Furthermore, preadministration of pitavastatin (0.5 mg/kg) reduced expression of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 at 12 and 24 hr after induction of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Conclusions: As pitavastatin was efficacious in preventing retinal neuronal death, it may be a novel therapeutic modality for ischemic retinal diseases.