Neuroprotection: By Beta Blockers

Beta Blockers can potentially serve as Neuroprotectors. In neurodegenerative disorders of eye there is progressive apoptosis going on, ultimately leading to the blindness. A proposed mechanism of action in this regard is illustrated in the diagram, moreover how beta blockers (TOPICAL: e.g., Timolol) help to prevent it, is also shown in figure. Actually the receptors here are type of GPCRs (Serpentine receptors), present on the membrane of the cell, and provoke a cascade of reactions leading to the activation of Protein kinase A, ultimately phosphorylating a specific domain of the CaCns and causing influx of the Calcium, resulting in the loading of the cell with cations. This triggers the activation of NMDA receptors, causing a heavy loading of the cell with cations of Calcium and magnesium via CaCns and MgCns, consequently causing excitotoxicty in the cell. This whole anarchy in the cell is then responsible of the activation of what we call as Programmed Cell Death, or Apoptosis. The inhibition of this apoptotic pathway is done by timolol, hence preventing the neurodegeneration and promoting the neuroprotecction.