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Abstract #78074 Published in IGR 19-4

Correlation of Crystallin Expression and RGC Susceptibility in Experimental Glaucoma Rats of Different Ages

Anders F; Mann C; Liu A; Teister J; Funke S; Thanos S; Grus F; Pfeiffer N; Prokosch V
Current Eye Research 2018; 43: 1267-1273


PURPOSE: Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide with age being an important risk factor. However, the pathogenesis remains poorly understood. AIM: of this study was to focus on age-dependent molecular changes in an experimental animal model of glaucoma. METHODS: Intraocular pressure was elevated in Sprague-Dawley rats aged 3, 14, and 47 weeks for a period of 7 weeks by episcleral vein cauterization. Ganglion cell loss was monitored by an immunohistochemical staining of the Brain-specific homeobox/POU (Pit-1, Oct-2, Unc-86) domain protein 3A positive cells in retinal flat-mounts and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography measuring the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. Molecular protein alterations were analyzed using a comprehensive mass spectrometric proteomics approach of the retina and vitreous body. RESULTS: While juvenile animals did not show a significant loss of retinal ganglion cells due to intraocular pressure elevation, adolescent animals showed a decrease up to 26% (p < 0.05). A shift of retinal crystallin protein expression levels within all protein-family subclasses (α, β, γ) could be observed in the youngest animal group (p < 0.05), while the upregulation of crystallin proteins in older animals was less striking. In addition, numerous crystallin proteins were also detected in the vitreous body. CONCLUSION: These results provide insights of a potential correlation of age-related glaucomatous damage and the absence of crystallin proteins in the retina.

a Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology , University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz , Germany.

Full article

Classification:

5.1 Rodent (Part of: 5 Experimental glaucoma; animal models)
3.6 Cellular biology (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
11.8 Neuroprotection (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)



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