Evaluation of Novel Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Derived Lipid Mediators of Inflammation to Ameliorate the Deleterious Effects of Blast Over Pressure on Eye and Brain Visual Processing Centers in Rats
Abstract
Blast injury has emerged as arguably the greatest threat to warfighters in current theaters of operation, and is a leading cause of vision loss in military personnel due to non-penetrating traumatic injuries to the eyes and brain visual centers, likely caused by blast shock waves. In light of the difficult lifelong disability that permanent loss of vision represents, we propose there is an urgent need for new drug therapies that can arrest progression of neuronal cell death in the eye (retina) and brain, as result of exposure to blast waves. Our hypothesis is that novel omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid derived lipid mediators of inflammation, i.e., lipoxins, neuroprotectins, and resolvins, will aid as drugs in healing of neurons critical to visual function after blast wave induced eye and brain injuries. Using an adult rat model of blast wave exposure, during the first phase of the study, we rigorously characterized the cellular and functional damage to the eyes (retinas) and brain visual centers, by electroretinography (ERG), visual discrimination behavioral testing, and histopathology.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA621266
Entities
People
- James Demar
Organizations
- Geneva Foundation