Expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in rabbit Müller cells after lensectomy-vitrectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess retinal response after lensectomy-vitrectomy, the authors analyzed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), which retinal glial cells express in several pathologic conditions.


METHODS
GFAP expression was examined by means of immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in rabbit retina after lensectomy-vitrectomy.


RESULTS
Müller cells had detectable GFAP immunoreactivity in peripheral retina 3 days after surgery. GFAP immunoreactivity was present in both peripheral and posterior regions 7 days, 14 days, and 6 months after surgery. The authors confirmed that anti-GFAP antibody recognized the 51 kDa protein specifically by Western blot analysis. Time-dependent increase of GFAP in peripheral retina was also obtained by ELISA:


CONCLUSIONS
Such progressive GFAP accumulation in Müller cells, which are sensitive to microenvironmental changes, may reflect some underlying retinal response after lensectomy-vitrectomy.
Yoshida
A
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Ishiguro
S
S
Tamai
M
M
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism*; D014821:Vitrectomy
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein