AIM: To investigate the protective effect of nerve growth factor combined with Ginkgo biloba extract on retinal ischemia - reperfusion(RIR)injury in rabbits with experimental high intraocular pressure.

METHODS: Establishment of rabbit glaucoma ischemia reperfusion model. Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: nerve growth factor group, Ginkgo biloba extract group and combination group. Respectively, in the continuous administration of 1, 7, 14d. We observed the morphological changes of the tissues of the retina. The levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD), nitric oxide(NO)and malondialdehyde(MDA)in retinal tissue were measured.

RESULTS: Respectively, first, in the continuous administration of 1, 7, 14d, the contents of MDA and NO in Ginkgo biloba extract group and nerve growth group were higher than that in combination group(P<0.05). Secondly, the SOD content of Ginkgo biloba extract group and nerve growth group were lower than that of combination group at each time point(P<0.05). At each time point, the number of HE staining of retinal ganglion cells(RGCs)showed that the loss of RGCs in the combination group was significantly lower than that in the other groups, and the ganglion cell count showed that the Ginkgo biloba extract group and the neuronal growth group were lower(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Nerve growth factor combined with Ginkgo biloba extract has better protective effect on retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. The mechanism may be related to the decrease of free radicals and increase the activity of SOD in retinal tissue.