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Abstract #13037 Published in IGR 7-3
α2-Adrenergic Receptors Are Present in Normal Human Conjunctiva
Diebold Y; Enriquez de Salamanca A; Calonge M; Saez V; Callejo S; Stern MECurrent Eye Research 2005; 30: 1121-1129
PURPOSE: Despite the passage of medications, including antiglaucoma drugs, through the ocular surface, and despite the increasing relevance of neurogenic inflammation in the ocular surface, the presence of some neuroreceptors in the conjunctiva has not been ascertained. This study describes the presence of α2 -adrenergic receptors in normal human conjunctiva. METHODS: Immunofluorescence microscopy, electrophoresis, and Western blot analyses were done in human conjunctival biopsies and rat control tissues. Antibodies against α2 -adrenergic receptor subtypes α2A , α2B , and α2C were used. RESULTS: Immunoreactivity for α2A - and α2B -, but not α2C -adrenergic receptors was evenly distributed in epithelial cells of human conjunctiva cryosections. Immunoreactive bands were detected for the three α2 -adrenergic receptor subtypes: a major band of 48-50 kDa and fellow bands of 65-67 kDa. CONCLUSIONS: Normal human conjunctival epithelial cells express α(2A)-, α(2B)-, and α(2C)-adrenergic receptors. Further studies to determine the functional implications of these receptors in ocular surface homeostasis are warranted.
Dr. Y. Diebold, IOBA, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
Classification:
2.1 Conjunctiva (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
3.3 Immunohistochemistry (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
