Metabolomic changes in the rat retina after optic nerve crush.

PURPOSE: To identify metabolic pathways and metabolites affected by optic nerve crush that can act as predictors of the disease or therapeutic targets.

METHODS: The left optic nerve of adult rats was intraorbitally crushed and retinas were dissected 24 hours or 14 days after the lesion (n = 10 per group). Metabolic profiling analysis was carried out by Metabolon, Inc. A total of 195 metabolites were unambiguously detected. Data were normalized and the regulated metabolites were identified after comparing the different conditions. Metabolite concentration changes were analyzed using single and multivariate statistical analysis to detect discriminatory metabolites. Functional clustering and meta-analysis of the regulated metabolites was run through the Metacore platform.

RESULTS: Comparison of 24 hours versus control, 14 days versus control samples, and 24 hours versus 14 days identified 9, 19, and 32 regulated metabolites, respectively. Single and multivariate analysis identified a total of 27 and 36 metabolites to discriminate between control and 14 days and between 24 hours and 14 days, respectively. Enrichment analysis showed alterations in the amino acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism, which were further linked to translation, oxidative stress, energy (glucose and tricarboxylic acid cycle), and apoptosis through ceramide pathways.

CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis differentiates a set of metabolites that clearly discriminate control and early-injury samples from late-injury samples. These metabolites could have potential use as diagnostic molecules.