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Abstract #5964 Published in IGR 2-2
An immunohistochemical study of neuronal and glial cell reactions in retinae of rats with experimental glaucoma
Wang X; Tay SS-W; Ng Y-KExperimental Brain Research 2000; 132: 476-484
Glaucoma is a common disease seen in the eye clinic, but its associated pathological processes, especially the role of glial cells in glaucomatous retinae, are still under debate. The aim of the present work was to study the responses of astrocytes, Müller cells and microglia in retinae of rats with experimental glaucoma. Glaucoma was induced in adult male Wistar rats by cauterizing limbal-derived veins and the changes in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), OX42, OX18, OX6 and ED1 expression were studied by immunohistochemical staining. Neuronal cell viability was studied by immunostaining with the neuronal nuclei (NeuN) antibody. In the experimental glaucomatous eyes, a significant drop in the number of NeuN-positive neurons was observed from seven days postoperation and beyond in both the ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer. The expression of GFAP and OX42 was increased during the first two months after operation and reduced in rats at three and four months. OX6 and OX18 immunoreactivity was induced in some microglia of both glaucomatous and sham-operated control eyes. Possible mechanisms of the reaction of astrocytes, Müller cells and microglia in neuronal degeneration following glaucoma are discussed.
Dr. S.S.-W. Tay, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 4 Medical Drive, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 117597, Singapore
Classification:
1.3 Pathogenesis (Part of: 1 General aspects)
3.3 Immunohistochemistry (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
