Objective To study the effect of hypoxia on proliferation of cultured bovine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and expression of the antiapoptotic protein bcl-2. Methods The bovine RPE cells were cultured under normal and hypoxic chamber respectively. After 24 hours, the proliferation of RPE cells was evaluated by［3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, MTT］test. At the same time, anti-bcl-2 protein antibody was examined by immuno-histochemistry method. Results The A value in the hypoxia group was higher than that in the normal group after 24 hours (P＜0.05 )in MTT-test. Positive staining for anti-bcl-2 protein antibody was seen in 72.6% cells in hypoxia group and 38.64% in normal group. The positive staining was more obvious near the nucleus, and fine granules scattered in cytoplasm of some cells. Conclusion Hypoxia can stimulate the proliferation of RPE cells and expression of antiapoptotic protein bcl-2. The results indicate that bcl-2 may play an important role in mediating the proliferation activity of RPE cells. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 293-295)
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)
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)
Objective To investigate the damage to the retinal cells and apoptosis of retinal cells of rats after ischemia-reperfusion insult. Methods The retinal ischemia-reperfusion model was developed by increasing intraocular pressure to 109725 mm Hg in rat eyes. Morphological changes of the rat eyes were observed by means of routine histopathology with HE staining. Apoptosis of the retina was assayed by both DNA fragmentation gel-electrophoresis and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL). Results Compared with the normal control, no histopathological changes were revealed in the rat retinas 30 min after the ischemia and then reperfued for 24 h or 48 h. Retinal ganglion cell layer (RGL) and inner plaxiform layer (IPL) of the retina were observed, however, to become significantly thinner 60 min after the ischemia and then reperfued for 24 h or 48 h. Together with the pathological changes DNA ladder pattern was detected in the same group of the rats. Further, immunochemical stain of the eye demonstrated that TUNEL positive cells were localized in RGL and IPL of the retina. Conclusion Ischemia-reperfusion insult of the eye may remarkably damage the retina of the rat eye. The damage to the retinal cells is mainly localized within RGL and IPL and apoptosis is the important mechanism of the retinal disorder. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 296-298)
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)
Objective To investigate the influnce of L-arginine (L-Arg) and L-nitro-arginine-methyl-ester(L-NAME) to purified retinal ganglion cells(RGCs) apoptosis of rats cultured in different consistencies of L-Arg and L-NAME. Method RGCs from Sprague Dawley (SD) neonatal rats(postnatal 1~5 day) were cultured in assimilative culture solution in vitro and RGCs were purified by Thy1.1 with sheep anti rat FITC monoclonal antibody. RGCs were cultured in different consistencies of L-Arg and L-NAME: 1×10-6, 1×10-5,1×10-4, 1×10-3, 1×10-2 and 1×10-1 mol/L for 24 hours and 48 hours, respectively. The changes of bcl-2, bax and p53 mRNA in RGCs in different consistencies of L-Arg and L-NAME were demonstrated qualitatively and quantitatively by in situ hybridization, and their apoptosis were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) method, respectively. Results After 24 hours in vitro, the purification rate of RGCs in the experiment arrived at 97 %. After 48 hours, there were a few apoptotic cells expression in the control group. Apoptotic cells expression in L-Arg≥1×10-3 mol/L and L-NAME≥1×10-1 mol/L groups increased that had a significant difference with the control group (Plt;0.05). In the group of L-Arg≥1×10-3 mol/L and L-NAME≥1×10-1 mol/L, the expression of bcl-2 mRNA in RGCs became weaker and weaker as the consistencies were increased, but the expression of bax and p53 mRNA in RGCs became higher and higher and had a significant difference with control group (Plt;0.05). Conclusion Lower concentration of L-Arg can promote the growth of purified RGCs in vitro and higher concentration of L-Arg can promote the apoptosis of RGCs. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 137-139)
Objective To observe apoptotic and proliferative characteristics of the retinal vascular end othelial cells (RVECs) of the 1～16 weeks diabetic rats and p53 and bcl-2 expressions of the rats,in order to probe the pathogenic mechanism of diabetic retinopathy(DR). Methods Models of diabetic Wistar rats were made by alloxan venous injection.The retinal blood vessels were filled by ink,the wholemounts and paraffin-embedded sections of the retinas were made,TUNEL staining and Immunohistochemical ABC staining were used,and light microscopy was taken,in succession. Results Apoptosis of the RVECs was not found.Compared with control group,the morphologic features of the RVECs and the structure of the retinal blood vessels remained unchanged.In the period from the 10th to the 16th week,the immunohistochemical stain of PCNA,BrdU,p53,and bcl-2 for RVECs revealed positive results,but there was no any sign of the RVECs stacking and proliferating or new blood vessels forming in the retinas.In control group,the reaction of immunological stain of the aforementioned parameters was negative. Conclusions No accelerated apoptosis and proliferation of the RVECs in the 1～16 week diabetic rats happen after alloxan injection.Almost all of the RVECs were stimulated to enter the cell cycle in the 10th week.Expression of p53 and bcl-2 might play an important role in stabilizing the RVECs in early stage of diabetes. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 1999, 15: 157-159)
Objective To investigate the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF)，fibroblast growth factor(FGF), and bovine serum on proliferation and apoptosis of the cultured fetal human retinal cells.Methods EGF and FGF were added or not to the medium of fetal human retinal cells cultured by bovine serum in vitro. The number of cells, bromodeoxyuridine(BrdU) incorporation and Tdt-mediated dUTP nick end labelling(TUNEL) were detected to determine the proliferation and apoptosis. Immunohistochemical staining of neuron specific enolase(NSE), Thy1.1, glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) and scan electromicroscopy were performed to identify cell components. The expression of transcription factor c-fos, c-jun and apoptosis regulation factor bcl-2 and Bax were examined by immunohistochemical staining to explore the underlying mechanism.Results The increased number of NSE and Thy1.1 positive cells and BrdU incorporation, and decreased apoptotic cells were found in the groups treated with EGF and FGF. Meanwhile, the up-regulation of c-fos, c-jun and bcl-2 were also found. Conclusion EGF and FGF can promote the survival and proliferation of cultured retinal cells by up-regulating the expression of c-fos, c-jun and bcl-2. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2003，19：113-116)
Objective To observe whether apoptosis was involved in cells of aspiration fluid from vitrectomy for proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR),and whether there was an association with expression of Fas antigen(Fas )and Fas ligand (FasL). Methods Cytocentrifuge slides of 11 fresh vitreous specimenｓ of PVR were prepared to be stained by TUNEL met hod for detection of apoptosis and by immunohistochemical technique for detection of Fas,FasL，and cytokeratin (CK),a cell-type specific antigen. Results Fas and FasL were expressed in normal human retina.Fas,FasL,CK，and apoptosis were found in all preparations.TUNEL-positive cells were 20.53% in total cells.70.35%,51.58%，and 82.97% of cells highly expressed Fas,FasL，and CK,respectively.The linear correlation coefficient of Fas and apoptosis was 0.99(Plt;0．001). Conclusion Vitrectomy specimens of PVR showed expression of Fas，FasL，and apoptosis.Prominent Fas and FasL expressions may be associated with apoptosis of proliferating retinal pigment epithelial cells in the vitreous of PVR. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1999,15:78-80)
Objective To investigate the correlation of ascorbic acid distribution and retinal susceptibility to iron toxicity of the retina.Methods Autoclaved iron particles of 5 mg and 15 mg were implanted into the vitreous cavities of 32 Spragu-Dawley (SD) rats and 9 rabbits, respectively. The retinal sections of rats and rabbits were examined after hemotoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Apoptos is of rabbits′retinal neurons was investigated by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Chinoy′s method was used to observe the distribution of as corbic acid in the retinae of the 2 kinds of animals.Results In rats, histological and structural densification was observed only in the photoreceptor cells after implantation of the iron particles. In rabbits, however, histological and structural destruction as well as TUNEL-positive nuclei were observed in all neuronal layers of the retina 3 days after the implantation of the iron particles. Silver granules reduced by ascorbic acid from silver nitrate were observed only in the outer nuclear layer in normal rats retinae, while they were observed evenly throu ghout all layers of rabbits′retinae. Conclusions The suscept ibility of retina to iron toxicity is correlated to the distribution of ascorbic acid in retina. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2003，19：269-332)