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AIM: To explore the induced expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in rat retinal Muller cells subjected to experimentally induced glaucoma. METHODS: Cauterization of the limbus-draining veins was used to induce glaucoma. Three rats were killed at each of the points at postoperative 2 hours, 1 and 3 days and 1, 2 and 3 weeks respectively for sagittal retinal sections. Double immunofluorescence was carried out between glutamine synthetase (GS) and GFAP antiserum. Sections were examined under an Olympus confocal laser scaning microcope FV1000. RESULTS: In normal condition there was no expression of GFAP in Muller cells. Muller glial cells reacted vigorously to increased intraocular pressure (IOP) as manifested by the induced and upregulated expression of GFAP. The induced expression of GFAP with the rise of IOP began at postoperative 2 hours. The marked GFAP expression appeared to be most intense at postoperative 1 week and was sustained at postoperative 3 weeks. Induced GFAP expression in Muller glial cells was demonstrated unequivocally in whole-mount preparation of the retina. Western blotting analysis confirmed a marked increase in expression of GFAP after operation. CONCLUSION: GFAP is a potential and useful biomarker for retina injury. The induced expression of nestin in Muller glial cells, especially at their end-feet, suggests a potential neuroprotective mechanism in neuronal degeneration. LA: Chinese
Dr. L.-P. Xue, Department of Ophthalmology, Fourth Hospital of Kunming Medical College, Kunming 650021 Yunnan Province, China. xueliping001@163.com
5.1 Rodent (Part of: 5 Experimental glaucoma; animal models)
2.13 Retina and retinal nerve fibre layer (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
3.5 Molecular biology incl. SiRNA (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)