ObjectiveTo investigate the neuroprotective effect of Benztropine on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) death and optic nerve injury in rats model of non-arteritis anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (rNAION).MethodsA total of 25 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into Benztropine treatment group (n=13) and PBS control group (n=12). The right eye was set as the experimental eye. rNAION model was established by using rose Bengal combined with laser photodynamic method. The rats in the Benztropine treatment group were received intraperitoneal injection with Benztropine 10 mg/kg (0.2 ml) daily for 3 weeks, while the rats in the PBS control group were received intraperitoneal injection with an equal volume of PBS. At 1, 3 and 7 days after modeling, the retinal and optic disc conditions of the rats were observed by direct ophthalmoscopy. Retrograde labeling, fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe the survival of RGCs and the damage of the optic nerve myelin and axon at 4 weeks after modeling. The RGCs density and survival rate of the two groups were compared by One-Way Anova.ResultsAt 1 and 3 days after modeling, the optic disc edema was observed in the rats of rNAION model group. At 7 days after modeling, the optic disc edema decreased and the boundary was blurred compared with 3 days after modeling.After 4 weeks, the RGCs density in the PBS group was 308±194/mm2 and the survival rate was 13.7%. The density of RGCs in the Benztropine group was 1173+868/mm2 and the survival rate was 47.6%. The differences of RGCs density and survival rate were significant between the two groups (F=7.552, 8.184; P=0.015, 0.012). Myelin disintegration, axon degeneration, onion-like body and gliosis were observed in the optic nerve sections of rNIAON in the PBS group, while the damage of axon and myelin structure in the Benztropine group was significantly less than that in the PBS group.ConclusionsBenztropine group showed higher RGC survival rate, less damage of axon and myelin structure on rNAION model. This study explored the potential neuroprotective effect of Benztropine.