AIM: To analyze the protective effect of resveratrol on the optic nerve of glaucoma rats and its effect on the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)signal pathway and its related factors.

METHODS: SPF grade SD rats were used to cauterize the scleral surface veins to make a right eye glaucoma model. After successful modeling, different doses(10, 20, 40 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection)of resveratrol were used to intervene. Intraocular pressure was measured 2h after the last administration, and retinal slices were made to observe the survival of retinal ganglion cells(RGC). Retinal plaque to observe the survival of retinal ganglion cells(RGC). Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of retinal PI3K, Akt, basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF).

RESULTS: The intraocular pressure(30.25±4.25)mmHg in the model group was higher than that in the low-dose group(26.30±4.05)mmHg, the middle dose group(22.31±3.68)mmHg and the high dose group(18.32±3.21)mmHg, and the model group RGC labeling rate(48.25±4.50)% was lower than the low dose group(56.32±5.05)%, middle dose group(66.03±6.68)% and high dose group(78.56±7.82)%(P<0.05). The intraocular pressure in the low, middle and high dose groups decreased in a dose-dependent manner, and the RGC labeling rate increased in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05). The p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt protein ratio, bFGF, BDNF mRNA and protein relative expression in the model group were lower than those in the low dose group, middle dose group, and high dose group(P<0.05), and the low-dose group, middle dose group and high-dose group increased in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION: Resveratrol can inhibit the apoptosis of RGC in glaucoma rats and reduce optic nerve damage, which may be related to the up regulation expression of phosphorylated of related proteins in PI3K/Akt signal pathway and the expression of protective gene and protein of optic nerve.