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OBJECTIVE: In tryptophan metabolism, kynurenine aminotransferas (KAT) is the key biosynthetic enzyme of kynurenic acid (KYNA), the excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist and neurotransmission modulator. The aim of this study was to explore the ocular tissue (s) of expressing KAT subtype, KAT-II during developement of normal BL6 mice and further compare the difference of the expression of KAT-II between BL6 mice and DBA/2J intraocular hypertension mice. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry and 4,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride hydrate (DAPI)double labeling with antibody specified against KAT-II were used to locate the distribution in ocular tissues of 9 normal BL6 mice and 9 DBA/2J mice aged 3, 6, 11 months and analyzed the difference of KAT-II exprssion between two strains. RESULTS: In both mice strains, green KAT-II positive staining was found mainly in corneal epithelial and endothelial cells, retinal ganglion cells layer, ciliary epithelial cells and endothelial cells of blood vessels in ciliary muscles. The comparison of these two strains revealed that there was a stronger staining of KAT-II in corneal epithelial and retinal ganglion cells in DBA/2J during the early stages (3 and 6 months) than that in BL6. In ciliary body of BL6 mice, the KAT-II positive staining peaked at the 6-month old mice. It was uncomparable in KAT-II expression between two srains in ciliary body due to the undeveloped ciliary spur in DBA/21 mice. CONCLUSION: The overexpression of KAT-II in DBA/2J mice suggests that KAT-II may play an importmant role in the development of ocular hypertension and retina degeneration. LA: Chinese
Dr. X. Xiong, Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China. xcxio@yahoo.com.cn
5.1 Rodent (Part of: 5 Experimental glaucoma; animal models)
3.7 Biochemistry (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
3.8 Pharmacology (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
3.3 Immunohistochemistry (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)