Objective To observe whether theograde axial flow of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in diabetic rats at the early stage was damaged. Methods Diabetic model was induced by streptozotocin in 6 adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD)rats. Fluorogold (FG) was injected to the superior colliculi 4 weeks later.Streched preparation of retina was made 12 and 72 hours after the injection, and was stained after photographed by fluorescent microscope. The proportion of RGC with different sizes labeled by FG was calculated. Other 6 normal adult male SD rats were in the control group. Results Twelve hours after injection with FG, there was no difference of the total number of RGC in experimental and control group, but the ratio of small RGC was lower in experimental group than that in the control group; 72 hours after injection with FG, The number of RGC, especially the small RGC, decreased obviously in experimental group compared with the control group. Conclusion The speed of the retrograde axial flow of RGC in diabetic rats at the early stage is affected, and the small RGC are damageable. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 4-6)
Objective To observe the morphological changes of dendrite and soma in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) which subsisted in early diabetic rats. Methods The RGCs of 3-months-course diabetic rats and coeval normal rats were marked by gene gun techniques. To collect RGCs photographs by Leica microscope with Z axis and CCD camera；to observe the changes of diameter, variance of structural features in dendritic field and somata after classification which according to the size and morphology. Thy-1 antibody marks on the retinal RGCs, taking a photograph under fluorescent microscope, counting the changes of retinal RGCs density in early diabetic rat. Results In three-month diabetic rats,the density of retinal RGCs was decreased obviously. Morphological changes of RGCs in the dendritic fields were observed with gene gun technique. There was no severe variation in all kinds of the bole of cell dendrite, in which some only showed crispation partially and sparseness also twisting in the dendritic ramus. The mean diameter of dendritic field and soma in class A of diabetic rats was (401plusmn;86) mu;m, the mean diameter of dendritic field in control group was (315plusmn;72) mu;m,compared with each other, there is statistically significant differences (t=21.249，Plt;0.001); the mean diameter of soma in class A of diabetic rats was (24plusmn;6) mu;m, the mean diameter of soma in control group was (22plusmn;5) mu;m, compared with each other, there is no statistically significant differences (t=0.927，Pgt;0.05); the mean diameter of dendritic field and soma in class B of diabetic rats were (170plusmn;36)、(14plusmn;2) mu;m respectively, in control group were (165plusmn;36)、(16plusmn;2) mu;m, the mean diameter of dendritic field and soma in class C of diabetic group were(265plusmn;78)、(17plusmn;5) mu;m respectively, in control group were (251plusmn;57)、(17plusmn;4) mu;m , compared with each other, there are on statistically significant differences(t=1.357，0.798，0.835，1.104，Pgt;0.05). Conclusions In short-term diabetes, the survived RGCs show good plasticity in adult diabetic rats, especially in class A. The changes of dendrites were more sensitive than the soma, which could be the leading index of the morphologic changes of RGCs in the early stage. The good plasticity showed by the RGCs and the time window from changing in dendrite to cell death provide us many evidences not only for the research but also for the nerve protection in clinic. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2008,24:249-254)
Objective To evaluate the inhibiting effect of adenosine on rat retinal ganglion cells (RGC) death induced by P2X7 and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Methods (1) Long-Evan neonatal rats were back labeled with aminostilbamidine to identify RGC. The viability of RGC affected by P2X7 excitomotor BzATP (50 mu;mol/L), glutamate receptor excitomotor NMDA (100 mu;mol/L) and adenosine (300 mu;mol/L) was detected. (2) RGC from the retinae of unlabeled neonatal rats were cultured in vitro. After labeled with Fura-2 methyl acetate, an intracellular calcium indicator, the effect of BzATP, NMDA and adenosine on intracellular Ca2+ level was detected byCa2+ imaging system. Results Both BzATP (50 mu;mol/L) and NMDA(100 mu;mol/L) could kill about 30% of the RGC. Cell death was prevented by adenosine (300 mu;mol/L) with the cell viability increased from (68.9plusmn;2.3)% and (69.9plusmn;3.2)% to (91.2plusmn;3.5)% (P＜0.001) and (102.1plusmn;3.9)% (P＜0.001), respectively. BzATP (50 mu;mol/L) led to a large, sustained increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration to (1183plusmn;109) nmol/L. After the adenosine intervened, Ca2+ concentration increased slightly to (314plusmn;64) nmol/L (P＜0.001). Conclusion Adenosine may prevent RGC death and increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration from P2X7and NMDA receptor stimulation. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2007, 23: 133-136)
ObjectiveTo construct a lentiviral vector carrying rat sirt1 gene and observe the expression of sirt1 in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) of rat. MethodsRat sirt1 cDNA was inserted into pLV5 vector. After identification by sequencing analysis and PCR, the recombinant sirt1expressinglentivirus vector was packaged by cotransfecting 293T cells with packaged plasmid.Then pLV5-sirt1 was used to infect the cultured Sprague-Dawley rat RGC cell in vitro.The expressions of sirt1 protein and mRNA in infected rat RGC were detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot. ResultsThe sirt1 expression vector pLV5 was successful constructed and sequence was proved to be correct. The expression of sirt1 protein and mRNA in RGC was significantly increased than that in cells infected with control lentiviruses(P < 0.05). ConclusionWe have successful constructed a sirt1 expression lentivirus vector pLV5-sirt1 and it can increase the expression of sirt1 protein and mRNA in the rat retinal ganglion cells.
Objective To study the effect of down-regulation of Claudin-3 mediated by adeno-associated virus (AAV) of shRNA on the cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in vitro. Methods RGCs isolated from mouse eyes were divided into normal control group, AAV-shScramble group, and AAV-shClaudin-3 group. The RGCs in AAV-shScramble group and AAV-shClaudin3 group were treated with AAV-shScramble and AAV-shClaudin-3 respectively 24 hours after cell seeding. Dynamic live cell fluorescence microscopy was used to observe the transfection efficiency 96 hours after transfection. Immunofluorescent staining of β-tubulin was used to measure the length of RGCs′ axon. 4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining was used to observe the nuclei of apoptotic cells. The mRNA level of Claudin-3 and VEGF was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The protein levels of Claudin-3, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 was determined by Western blot. Results The positive transfection rate was more than 50% in both AAV-shScramble group and AAV-shClaudin-3 group. The length of RGCs' axon in AAV-shClaudin-3 group was shorter than that in normal control group and AAV-shScramble group (F=22 363.274,P＜0.05). Down-regulation of Claudin-3 accelerated RGCs' apoptosis with nuclei shrinkage, tapering, and nucleolus formation of apoptotic bodies. The mRNA levels of Claudin-3 and VEGF in AAV-shClaudin-3 group were lower than those in normal control group and AAV-shScramble group (F=257.408, 160.533;P＜0.05). The protein levels of Claudin-3, VEGF and Bcl-2 in AAV-shClaudin-3 group were lower than those in normal control group and AAV-shScramble group (F=129.671, 420.552, 62.669;P＜0.05), while the protein level of Caspase-3 in AAV-shClaudin-3 group was higher than that in normal control group and AAV-shScramble group (F=231.348,P＜0.05). Conclusion Down-regulation of Claudin-3 increases the expression of Caspase-3, reduces the expression of VEGF and Bcl-2, accelerates RGCs' apoptosis and inhibit the RGCs' axon growth.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of heat shock protein B8 (HspB8) downregulation on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) and retinal function in the mice model of optic nerve injury (ONC).MethodsAdeno-Associated Virus (AAV) 2 AAV2-shHspB8-GFP was constructed to knockdown HspB8. 66 adult male C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into the control group, the ONC group, the AAV2-shHspB8 group, the ONC+AAV2-shHspB8 group, and the ONC+AAV2- GFP group. There were 10, 20, 16, 10 and 10 mice respectively, and both eyes were used as experimental eyes. Western blot was used to evaluate the expression of HspB8 on day 3 and 7 after ONC. By GFP immunofluorescence staining, the efficacy of AAV2-shHspB8-GFP transfer was accessed. Moreover, it was possible to identify functional and RGC survival differences between groups by optomotor response (OMR), dark adapted full-field flash electroretinogram (ff-ERG), oscillatory potentials (OPs), photopic negative response (PhNR) and retinal flat-mount RGC counting 5 days after ONC. Comparisons between two groups were made using Mann-Whitney U test, unpaired t-test, unpaired t-test with Welch’s correction, one-way ANOVA, and Bonferroni t test.ResultsCompared with the control group, the expression of HSPB8 protein in the retina of mice in ONC3 group was significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant (F=43.63, P＜0.01). Compared with the control group, the ONC group showed obviously lower visual acuity (P＜0.01), lower a-wave, b-wave, OPs, PhNR amplitude, longer b-wave latency (P＜0.05), and the survival rates of RGC in ONC3 group, ONC5 group and ONC7 group decreased in a time-dependent manner(F=384.90, P＜0.01). Transfection of AAV2 efficiency was highest on 4 weeks after IVT. Besides, there was no significant differences between the control group and the AAV2-shHspB8 group on visual acuity, ff-ERG, OPs, PhNR and RGC survival (P>0.05). In comparison of the control group, we found that RGC survival of the ONC5+AAV2-shHspB8 group was significantly elevated (F=10.62, P＜0.01).ConclusionsExpression of HspB8 on the retina can be induced by ONC. The investigation of RGC counting, visual acuity, and ff-ERG revealed that optic nerve injury destructed functionality of mice retina and resulted to RGC death ultimately. The Most crucial finding of this research is that HspB8 knockdown had a neuroprotective effect in RGC after ONC.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of form deprivation on the morphology of different types of RGC in mice.MethodsSixty B6.Cg-Tg (Thy1-YFP) HJrs/J transgenic mice were randomly assigned to form-deprived group (n=28) and control group (n=32). The right eyes of mice in the form-deprived group were covered by an occluder for 2 weeks as experimental eyes. The right eyes of mice in the control group were taken as control eyes. Before and 2 weeks after form deprivation, the refraction and ocular biometrics were measured; RGC were stained with Bra3a antibody and counted; the morphology of RGC was reconstructed with Neuroexplore software after immunohistochemical staining. The data was compared among experimental eyes, fellow eyes and control eyes by one-way analysis of variance.ResultsTwo weeks after form deprivation, the axial myopia was observed in the experimental eyes (refraction: F=15.009, P＜0.001; vitreous chamber depth: F=3.360, P=0047; ocluar axial length: F=5.011, P=0013). The number of RGC in central retina of the experimental eyes was decreased compared with the fellow eyes and the control eyes (F=4.769, P=0.035). The reconstructed RGC were classified into 4 types according to their dendritic morphology. Form deprivation affected all 4 types of RGC but in a different way. Among them, 3 types of RGC were likely contribute to form vision perception. Form deprivation increased the dendrite branches in these types of ganglion cells. However, form deprivation decreasd dendrite segment numbers in both eyes and the intersection and length insholl analyse type 4 ganglion cells which were morphologically identified as ipRGC.ConclusionForm deprivation distinguishingly affects the morphology of different types of RGC, indicating that form vision and non-form vision play different role in myopia development.
ObjectiveTo observe the protective effect of etomidate (ET) on cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGC) with mechanical injury in vitro. MethodsNew Sprague-Dawley rat RGC was cultured in vitro and identified by double immunofluorescent labeling of Thy1.1 and microtubule associated protein 2. The cultured primary cells were randomly divided into control group, RGC scratch group, ET low dose group (1 μmol/L), ET medium dose group (5 μmol/L) and ET high dose group (10 μmol/L). The RGC mechanical injury model was established by using iris knife to culture cells in RGC scratch group and ET group with different concentration. Seven days after modeling, the RGC survival rate of each group was detected by cell count Kit 8 proliferation assay. The apoptosis rate of RGC was detected by Annexin Ⅴ/propyl iodide double staining. Single factor analysis of variance was used to compare the groups. The pairwise comparison between groups was tested by the least significant difference method. ResultsThe survival rates of RGC in RGC scratch group, ET low dose group, ET medium dose group and ET high dose group were (72.60±2.97)%, (73.73±1.14)%, (79.19±1.79)% and (83.88±0.94)%, respectively. The RGC apoptosis rates of control group, RGC scratch group, ET low dose group, ET medium dose group and ET high dose group were (5.08±0.17)%, (18.67±1.24)%, (17.96±0.74)%, (15.11± 0.56)% and (11.67±1.32)%, respectively. Comparison of RGC survival rate between groups: compared with RGC scratch group, the cell survival rate of ET low-dose group, ET medium-dose group and ET high-dose group was increased, and the difference between RGC scratch group and ET low-dose group was not statistically significant (P=0.728); the differences between RGC scratch group, ET medium dose group and ET high dose group were statistically significant (P＜0.001); the difference between ET medium dose group and ET high dose group was statistically significant (P=0.002). Comparison of apoptosis rate of RGC among groups: the apoptosis rate of RGC scratch group was significantly higher than that of control group, the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.001). Compared with RGC scratch group, the apoptosis rate of ET low-dose group, ET medium-dose group and ET high-dose group was decreased, and there was no statistical significance between RGC scratch group and ET low-dose group (P=0.869). The differences of apoptosis rate between RGC scratch group, ET medium dose group and ET high dose group were statistically significant (P＜0.05). The difference of apoptosis rate between ET medium dose group and ET high dose group was statistically significant (P=0.007). ConclusionET has neuroprotective effect on RGC cultured in vitro with mechanical injury, and the protective effect increases with the increase of ET dose in a certain range.