AIM: To investigate the neuroprotective effect of rho-associated coiled coil-forming protein kinase(ROCK)inhibitor y-39983 on retinal ischemia reperfusion(IR)injury in rats.

METHODS: Sixty adult SD rats were randomly assigned into normal group(n=15), IR group(n=15), saline group(n=15), y-39983 group(n=15), and the rats in later three groups were induced retinal IR by intra-anterior chamber infusion of saline solution. Rats in the saline and y-39983 groups were intravitreously injected with normal saline and y-39983 respectively, 5 minutes prior to the induction of ischemia. The protein expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecules-1(ICAM-1)was determined by immunohistochemical staining. Retrograde labeling of retinal ganalion cells(RGCs)with fluorogold was performed to assess the number of RGCs. Histologic studies and electroretinogram were carried out to evaluate retinal damage.

RESULTS: The preadminisration of y-39983 decreased ICAM-1 expression, elevated the survival rate of RGCs and the recoverage rate of amplitude of b wave and O₂ wave significantly, and attenuated the IR-induced the thinning of inner retina.

CONCLUSION: y-39983 can protect the rat retina from IR injury at least partially by inhibiting ICAM-1 abnormal expression, suggesting that y-39983 may have therapeutic potential for the retinal diseases associated with IR.