title: Myocilin expression in the astrocytes of the optic nerve head.
abstract: We investigated the expression of myocilin in the optic nerve head of porcine eyes by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Myocilin was localized in the nucleus, centrosome, glial filament, mitochondria, and some parts of the cell membranes of the astrocytes. Myocilin was also detected at the edge-feet portion of the processes of astrocytes adjacent to the inner limiting membrane and blood vessel wall. The astrocytes are the major cell population in the optic nerve head, contributing to the architecture of the nerve axon and blood vessels. Therefore, myocilin gene mutation and change of myocilin protein are likely to affect the architecture of the optic nerve head and induce various forms of glaucomatous optic nerve damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Health Science, Tokai University, Boseidai, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mashima
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Obazawa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oguchi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kudoh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minoshima
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018385:Centrosome / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D005123:Eye / Q000294:innervation; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009154:Mutation; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D013552:Swine; D000099179:Myocilin
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D000099179:Myocilin