Effect of Hydrogen-Rich Saline on Melanopsin after Acute Blue Light-Induced Retinal Damage in Rats

Excessive exposure to blue light can cause retinal damage. Hydrogen-rich saline (HRS), one of the hydrogen therapies, has been demonstrated to be effective in eye photodamage, but the effect on the expression of melanopsin in intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) is unknown. In this study, we used a rat model of light-induced retinal injury to observe the expression of melanopsin after HRS treatment and to determine the effect of HRS on retinal ganglion cell protection. Adult SD rats were exposed to blue light (48 h) and treated with HRS for 0, 3, 7, and 14 days. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB) were performed to find the expression of genes and proteins, respectively. The function of retinal ipRGCs was measured by pattern-evoked electroretinography (pERG). The number and morphological changes of melanopsin-positive ganglion cells in the retina were observed by immunofluorescence (IF). Acute blue light exposure caused a decrease in ipRGC function, decreased expression of melanopsin protein and the melanopsin-positive RGCs, and diminished immunoreactivity in dendrites. However, over time, melanopsin showed a tendency to self-recovery, with an increase in melanopsin protein expression and the number of melanopsin-positive RGCs, with incomplete recovery of function within two weeks. HRS treatment accelerated the recovery process, with a significant increase in melanopsin expression and the number of melanopsin-positive RGCs, and an improvement in the pERG waveform within two weeks. Excessive blue light exposure can decrease ipRGC function and melanopsin expression in rats. This study observed the protective effects of hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) treatment on a rat model of blue light-induced retinal injury. Rats were exposed to blue light for 48 h to damage the retina and treated with HRS for various duration. Western blot, PCR, and immunofluorescence analyzed changes in melanopsin gene and protein expression as well as ipRGC morphology and function assessed by pERG. Acute blue light exposure reduced melanopsin gene and protein levels and ipRGC function, while HRS accelerated their self-recovery over two weeks, increasing melanopsin expression and improving ipRGC function.image