Nicotinamide Riboside Protects Retinal Nerve Cells in Glaucoma: Preclinical Findings

Synopsis

Glaucoma causes progressive retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration and vision loss, often associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). This study tested whether oral administration of nicotinamide riboside (NR), an NAD+ precursor, could protect RGCs in a rat model of ocular hypertension induced by laser treatment. NR significantly increased retinal NAD+ levels and preserved optic nerve axons after three weeks of treatment. Morphometric analyses showed reduced axonal loss and increased neurofilament staining in NR-treated animals. NR also enhanced phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) in optic nerves, suggesting improved energy metabolism. These results indicate that oral NR administration protects against glaucomatous RGC axonal degeneration, potentially via AMPK activation, and supports NR as a neuroprotective candidate for glaucoma.

Journal

Current Issues in Molecular Biology