SkQ1 Slows Development of Age-Dependent Destructive Processes in Retina and Vascular Layer of Eyes of Wistar and OXYS Rats

---

V. B. Saprunova^1,2*, M. A. Lelekova¹, N. G. Kolosova^2,3, and L. E. Bakeeva^1,2

¹Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia; fax: (495) 939-3181; E-mail: fxb@belozersky.msu.ru

²Institute of Mitoengineering, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia; fax: (495) 939-5945; E-mail: info@mitotech.ru; saprunova@mail.genebee.msu.ru

³Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 10, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; fax: (383) 333-1278

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received February 23, 2012

---

We show the development of clearly pronounced age-related pathological changes in eye tissues of Wistar and OXYS rats. Photoreceptor cells were virtually absent in all OXYS rats in the age of 24 months. Massive accumulations of lipofuscin granules were detected in the pigmented epithelium cells. Flattening, overgrowing, and degradation of endothelial cells of choriocapillaries were also observed. Along with these changes, vessels without signs of degradation were detected in the pigmented epithelium. In 24-month-old Wistar rats these changes were local and were seen in only some of the animals. The mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 (the rats were given SkQ1 daily with food at the dose of 250 nmol/kg for 5 months, starting from the age of 19 months) prevented the development of these pathological changes in both Wistar and OXYS rats. The data were subjected to mathematical processing and statistical analysis.

---

KEY WORDS: ultrastructure, oxidative stress, retina, choriocapillary layer, antioxidant

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297912060120

---