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AIM: To research the mRNA and protein expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1(alpha) (HIF-1(alpha)) and caspase-9 in normal retina and ocular hypertention retina, investigate the relation of glaucomatous retinal degeneration and HIF-1(alpha) and caspase-9 signal transduction path. METHODS: Coagulating two episcleral veins unilaterally in rats with electric coagulator to establish the glaucoma model. Use immunochemistry, PT-PCR and Western Blot analysis to examine the expression of HIF-1(alpha) and caspase-9 genes. RESULTS: The expression of HIF-1(alpha) and caspase-9 were very faint immunostaining in normal retina. In the glaucomatous retina, immunostaining for HIF-1(alpha) and caspase-9 was predominant in the retinal ganglion cell layer and the inner nuclear. In RT-PCR and Western Blot, HIF-1(alpha) and caspase-9 genes mRNA and protein were faintly expressed in normal rat retina, and the expression of them increased in IOP elevation model rats with the time going on. The peak expression of HIF-1(alpha) was on the 7(th) day after IOP elevated. The peak expression of caspase-9 was on the 14(th) day then decreased but still maintained at a higher level. The expression among experimental groups was statisticlly different compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: HIF-1(alpha) and caspase-9 participates in signal transduction of retinal neurons apoptosis during retinal injury on chronic high ocular pressure.LA: Japanese
D.-M. Gui. Department of Ophthalmology, Shengjing Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110003, China. guidongmei2004@yahoo.com.cn
3.5 Molecular biology incl. SiRNA (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
3.4.2 Gene studies (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods > 3.4 Molecular genetics)
5.1 Rodent (Part of: 5 Experimental glaucoma; animal models)