Enhanced Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival via Autophagy Activation in a Novel Retinal Ischemia/Reperfusion Rat Model

Abstract

Autophagy is a fundamental catabolic process that degrades and recycles intracellular components, serving as a key survival mechanism in neurons. In glaucomatous optic neuropathy, autophagy has been linked to both protection of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their accelerated loss, yet its precise impact remains unresolved. In this study, we established and validated a straightforward rat model of retinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) using double circumlimbal sutures, which reliably produced RGC apoptosis, retinal thinning, and axonal degeneration compared with controls. Early after reperfusion (1–6 h), robust induction of the autophagy marker LC3B was observed, but this activation diminished within 48 h. Other autophagy-related proteins, including ATG4, ATG7, Beclin-1, and p62, followed similar temporal patterns, while components of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway displayed an inverse time course. Pharmacologic suppression of mTOR with intravitreal rapamycin administered prior to ischemia provided the most significant neuroprotection, whereas post-injury treatment yielded minimal benefit. Collectively, these findings indicate that timely stimulation of autophagy before retinal ischemic injury can enhance RGC survival and may represent a therapeutic potential for glaucoma management.