AIM: To assess the neuroprotective effect of bis(7)-tacrine in experimental Sprague-Dawley(SD)rat glaucoma.

METHODS: Totally 24 rats were randomly divided into control group, operated group, 0.5mg/kg bis(7)-tacrine group and 5mg/kg memantine group. Unilateral elevation of intraocular pressure(IOP)was produced by hypertonic saline injection into an episcleral vein. Animals were orally dosed daily with bis(7)-tacrine or memantine. IOP was measured in both eyes of animals per 3d, and the number of retinal ganglion cells and the thickness of nerve fiber layer axon bundle were measured at 5wk.

RESULTS: Elevated IOP were induced in 3 glaucoma groups. Compared with control group, the retinal ganglion cells decreased from 119.50±8.26 to 79.83±9.58 and the thickness of axon bundle come down from 13.40±0.60 μm to 6.64±0.50 μm in operated group. However the number of the retinal ganglion cells was 109.00±7.04 in bis(7)-tacrine group and 107.33±8.57 in memantine group individually. The thickness of axon bundle was 12.26±0.78μm in bis(7)-tacrine group and 10.13±1.19μm in memantine group individually.

CONCLUSION: Both bis(7)-tacrine and memantine inhibited retinal ganglion cells loss, but only bis(7)-tacrine decreased the thickness declining of axon bundle.