Objective To further investigate pathologic mechanism of retinal phototrauma. Methods Twenty Wistar rats were divided into control and experimental groups.Their eyes were extracted in 12，24 and 36 hours after light exposure.HE stained retina samples were examined and TDT-mediated dUTP nick end labelling(TUNEL)method was employed to distinguish apoptotic cells. Results After 12-hour light exposure,slight vesiculation was observed in the rod outer segment of the retinas.After 24-hour light exposure,the outer nuclear layer showed predominant fractured and condensed nuclei and fragmented DNA.After 36-hour light exposure,the rod outer and inner segments were lysed and most of the nuclei in the outer nuclear layer were disappeared. Conclusions Apoptosis of photoreceptor cell is one of the important mechanisms which cause experimental retinal photoinjury of rats. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 1999, 15: 167-169)
Objctive To explore the relationship between the expression of Fas/FasL and the apoptosis occurs in retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury of rats , as well as the therapeutic effects of bFGF on the ischemic retina.Methods Th emodels of retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury was made by transient elevating introcular pressure. A total of 28 rats were divided into normal and operation group.The latter were subdivided into 1 hour, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after reperfusion group, in which the left eyes of the rats were in the ischemia/reper fusion groups and the right ones were in the treatment groups (bFGF intracameral injection). Apoptosis was assessed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labelling (TUNEL) method, and the expression of Fas and Fas ligand was studied by strept avidin-biotin complex （SABC）immunohistochemistry. Results No positive cells were observed in the normal rats′retinae, but there was a significant number of TUNEL positive cells in 6-24 hours after transient ischemia followed by a decrease at the 48th hour. The number of TUNEL positive cells reached a maximum at the 24th hour after ischemia. The expression of Fas gradually increased as early as when it was at the 6th hour, reached a peak at the 24th hour, and then decreased at the 48th hour. Similarly, the expression of Fas ligand was at peak in 24-48 hours in GCL and INL of retina. Conclusions Retinal ischemia-reperfusion after transient elevated IOP induced apoptosis of cells in the retina. Fas/FasL may play an important role in the early events of the apoptotic pathways. bFGF can rescue RGCs from retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury through downregulation of the expression of Fas/FasL and may represent an important mechanism for therapeutic neuroprotection. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2003，19：160-163)
Purpose To study the proteins expression of genes related to apoptosis of retinal cells in development of human fetus． Methods Fifty cases of retinas of human fetus aged from 12 to 38 we eks were collected and paraffin embedded sections were made． Immunohistochemical method was used． Results Fas protein was expressed by cells of ganglion cell layer, inner and outer nuclear later, which were just formed on 16th week． It was not expressed until 38th week, Fas(+) staining appeared in layers of retina． Fas-L(+) staining was detected in cells of layers of retina on 26th week and the positive staining located in ganglion cell layer on 32th week． Neuronal fiber layer was Fas-L positive． Bax positive staini ng was detected on 8th week． Bax positive nucleus were observed mainly in GCL and ONL on 16th week． It was in INL on 24th week and in Muuml;ller cells inner terminates on 26th week． After this time, all cells of retina were bax immune ne gative staining． Bcl-2(+) staining appeared in differentiating neuroblastic layer on 16th week． Beginning on 24th week, bcl-2 (+) staining was observed in glial cells of GCL and inner terminates of Muuml;ller cell． Conclusion Apoptosis of developing retinal cell may be Fas/Fas-L independent and bax may be involved in apoptosis of the cells． (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:55-57)
Retinal neuronal cells are crucial in the formation of vision. Injury or death of these cells may lead to irreversible damage to visual function due to their low regenerative capacity. The P2X7 receptor is a trimeric adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-gated cation channel. Recent studies have shown that P2X7 receptor plays a role in retinal neuronal death. In a series of animal models, when exposed to conditions of hypoxia or ischemia, elevated ocular pressure, trauma and exogenous agonists, P2X7 receptor activated by extracellular ATP can cause death of retinal neuronal cells such as retinal ganglion cells and photoreceptor cells through direct or indirect pathways. Blocking the expression and function of P2X7 receptor by its specific antagonist and gene knocking-out, the loss of retinal neuronal cells is significantly attenuated. P2X7 receptor may become a potential novel neuroprotective target for diseases related to the loss of retinal neurons.
Objective To investigate the effects of genistein with different concentration on proliferation and apoptosis of cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro. Methods The effect of genistein with the concentration of 5，10，25，50，75，and 100 mg·L-1on the proliferation of cultured RPE was examined by tetrazolium salt (MTT) assay and AgNORs staining. The cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine 5-triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) methods, in the mean time, the morphologic changes of cell apoptosis were observed by light microscopy and transmission electronic microscopy, the results of which were compared with the normal RPE cells. Results Genistein with the concentration of 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg·L-1had a dose-dependent and time-dependent antiproliferative effects on RPE cells with the inhibitory rate of 12.0%-64.6% (P＜0.05). The results of AgNORs staining showed that the number of AgNORs in the nucleolus decreased when treated by genistein. In TUNEL staining, the median of percent of apoptotic RPE cells was 7.6%, 9.8%, 13.7% when treated with 50 mg·L-1genistein, 10.3%, 16.4%, 23.4% when treated with 75 mg·L-1genistein, and 15.4%, 21.2%, 35.8% when treated with 100 m g·L-1genistein respectively for 24, 48, and 72 hours. After the treatme nt with 50 mg·L-1genistein for 48 hours, the apoptosis in the nucleolus of RPE cells was found. Conclusions Genistein with different concentrations has a dose-dependent and time-dependent antiproliferative effect on RPE cells. Genistein can induce the apoptosis of RPE cells when it reaches a certain extent of concentration. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：241-244)
Objective To demonstrate if apoptosis is one of the mechanisms of siderotic retinopathy. Methods Autoclaved iron particles were implanted in the vitreous cavities of 32 eyes of SD rats.Glass chips were implanted in 10 control eyes.The experimental eyes were enucleated at various time intervals from days 1 to 15.Retinal degeneration was examined using the TdT-mediated,dUTP-biotin nickend labeling(TUNEL)method.Electrophoresis on agarose gel was used to detect internucleosomal DNA fragmentation.Results TUNEL-positive nuclei were observed only in the outer nuclear layer beginning on day 2.The nuclei spread throughout the outer nuclear layer by the end of day 3.No TUNEL-positive nuclei were observed in other layers throughout the experimental perios.Analysis of DNA,extracted from the retinas by electrophoresis on agarose gel,revealed a typical ladder pattern of internucleosoma DNA cleavage in the experimental eyes.ConclusionApoptosis of photoreceptors occurs at the early phase of iron-induced retinopathy in the rats.
Objective To investigate the role of anti apoptosis gene bcl-2 in the survival of cultured uveal melanoma UM cells. Methods Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODN) bcl-2 were delivered with cationic lipid to primary cultured UM cells. The inhibitory effect of AS-ODN bcl-2 on proliferation of UM cells was examined by 3,-4,5 Dimethyliazol-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. Using DNA ladder to determine if the UM cells had been apoptotic. Bcl-2 expression was detected by RT-PCR and Westernblot technics. Results The effect of AS-ODN bcl-2 in inhibiting the proliferation of cultured UM cells had opposite relation to dosage. It down regulated the mRNA and protein level of bcl-2 gene, and the sense ODN didn′t have this effect. Conclusion AS-ODN bcl-2 can down regulate bcl-2 expression, inhibits UM cells proliferation and induces apoptosis. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 38-41)
ObjectiveTo evaluate the protective effect of estrogen on survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after transient retinal ischemia-reperfusion (RIR) in rats.MethodsRIR was induced in 60 ovariectomized adult rats (OVX) by increasing intraocular pressure via an intracameral catheter. All of the rats were divided into two groups randomly: in experimental group, the rats underwent a subcutaneous injection with 17β-estrodiol（100 μg/kg） 2 hours before retinal ischemia; and in the control group, saline water was injected correspondingly. The number of RGCs and the thickness of the inner retinal layers were mesured by HE staining method before and 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after reperfusion. TdT-mediated biotin-dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) staining technique was used to examine the apoptosis of RGCs.ResultsTwenty-four and 48 hours after reperfusion, the number of apoptotic cells in experimental group was obvious lower than that in the control group(Plt;0.05), and the number of RGCs in experimental group was higher than that in the control group(Plt;0.05).ConclusionEstrogen can protect retinal neurons from transient RIR in ovariectomized rats.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:177-179)
Pyroptosis is a newly discovered form of cell death. Through the activation of inflammasome complexes, pyroptosis induces the production of interleukin (IL) -1β and IL-18, and the osmotic swelling of cells, thus induces cellular rupture and death. It plays a role in the pathological process of a variety of human diseases. The death of retinal cells including photoreceptor cells and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells is the main reason leading to visual dysfunction in the pathogenesis in ocular fundus diseases. Researches have demonstrated that pyroptosis is closely related to the onset and progression of various retinal diseases. In age-related macular degeneration, pyroptosis directly causes apoptosis of RPE cells and upregulation of pro-inflammatory factors, enhancing toxic effect of lipofuscin. For retinitis pigmentosa, pyroptosis is the leading manner of death of secondary cone photoreceptor cells. In cytomegalovirus retinitis, pyroptosis is the main responding way to infection. This review presented the molecular mechanism of pyroptosis and its role in age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and cytomegalovirus retinitis and other retinal diseases.
Objective To observe the protective effects of Na2SeO3 on the damage of retinal neuron induced by microwave. Methods Cultured fluids of retinal neuron were divided into 4 groups,including 1 group of control, according to the concentration of Na2SeO3 in cultured fluid and then exposed to 30 mW/cm2 microwave for 1 hour.The targets of lipid peroxidation and the concentration of selenium in cells were measured.Apoptosis detection was taken by TUNEL detection kit. Results The activity of SOD and GSH-Px rised,meanwhile the content of MDA and the amount of apoptosis cells decreased in 1times;107 mol/L group compared with the group without Na2SeO3.The other groups was superior in antioxdant capacity to 1times;107 mol/L group. Conclusion Na2SeO3 might be possessed of the effect of protecting the damage of retinal neuron induced by microwave. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2000,16:97-99)