Abstract:  Objective To observe the effect of Tianma Gouteng Decoction on the retinal neuroepithelial thickness and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) apoptosis in the optic nerve crush model rats. Design Experimental study. Participants Forty-eight male Wistar rats. Methods Rats were divided randomly into six groups: normal control, model, Tianma Gouteng Decoction treatment groups (concentrations were 0.6 g/ml, 1.2 g/ml, 2.4 g/ml) and Ginkgo biloba tablets positive control group (concentrations was 1.2 mg/ml) , treated for 30 days. Nothing was done in the normal control group. The optic nerve of right eye in the other groups was crushed with 40 g microclip 2 mm behind the globe for 60 seconds, the left eye was uncrushed. Observing the retinal neuroepithelial thickness under HE stained paraffin sections and the RGCs apoptosis in retina was assayed by TUNEL staining. Main Outcome Measures The retinal neuroepithelial thickness, RGC apptosis counts. Results The retinal neuroepithelial thickness was significantly decreased in the model group （171.04±13.86 μm）than in the normal controls （208.98±8.46 μm）(P=0.000), while the retinal neuroepithelial thickness was significantly increased in the medium and high dose Tianma Gouteng Decoction groups （187.68±11.16 μm and 189.22±9.54 μm）than in the model group (P=0.043, 0.001); There was no significant difference between the medium dose group, high dose group and positive control group （191.35±9.03 μm）(P=0.052, 0.670); The positive TUNEL cells in model group （9.09±2.24 cells/HP）increased obviously, which was significantly different from the normal control group （0.59±0.61 cells/HP）(P=0.000). The apoptosis cells were significantly decreased in the medium dose group, high dose group and positive control group （7.00±1.88, 5.22±2.05, 5.03±2.03 cells/HP, respectively）than the negative control group (P=0.024, 0.000, 0.000). Conclusions Tianma Gouteng Decoction has certain effect on anti-apoptosis of RGC on rat optic nerve crush model, with the increasing efficacy followed the increasing concentration of the drugs.

Key words: text-indent: 0px, display: inline !important, font: medium Simsun, white-space: normal, float: none, letter-spacing: normal, color: rgb(0,0,0), word-spacing: 0px, -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"> Tianma Gouteng Decoction, optic nerve crush, retinal neuroepithelial, retinal ganglion cells, apoptosis