Correction of hypertensive retinal changes in rats with Semax

Currently, there are no drugs for the specific treatment of hypertensive retinal changes. The main therapy is for the treatment of a systemic disease – hypertensive disease. Therefore, the search for ways of specific pharmacological correction of hypertensive retinal changes is of great interest. The aim of the study: To evaluate the correction possibility of retinal injuries with Semax in a rat model of hypertensive neuroretinopathy. Materials and methods: The model was performed by injection of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) at a dose of 1.25 mg/100 g of rat mass within 28 days and a single increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) to 110 mmHg for 5 min. The retinoprotective effect of Semax at a dose of 7.2 μg/100 g of rat mass, in comparison with Picamilon at a dose of 3 mg/100 g of rat mass, was estimated by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and electroretinography (ERG). Results: The use of Semax led to an increase in retinal perfusion by 62.7%, p < 0.05, in comparison with the group with the model, and by 9.9%, p < 0.05, in comparison with Picamilon; an increase in the b/a coefficient by 31.4% in comparison with the group with the model, p < 0.05, and by 14.6%, p < 0.05 in comparison with Picamilon. Conclusion: The neuroretinoprotective effect of Semax in correction of hypertensive retinal changes in rats may be due to the presence of neuroprotective, neurometabolic, antioxidant and endothelioprotective effects in Semax. Thus, Semax can be a promising agent in hypertensive neuroretinopathy treatment.