[The effect of elevated hydrostatic pressure on expression level of type III collagen mRNA by lamina cribrosa cells in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of elevated hydrostatic pressure on the expression level of type III collagen mRNA by lamina cribrosa cells (LCCs) and approach the action of changes of extracellular stroma on glaucomatous optic nerve damage.


METHODS
LCCs were cultured and submitted to elevated hydrostatic pressure (4.67 - 5.33 kPa). We observed collagen type III mRNA level by dot-blot hybridization and computer imaging analysis.


RESULTS
Under the pressure for 3 days, the amounts of collagen III mRNA were 0.5828 +/- 0.0517 in optical density (OD), compared with the same period controls (0.2832 +/- 0.0613), the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). When exposed to pressure up to 6 days, the collagen III mRNA level remained somewhat higher than that of the control, but there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). After 9 to 12 days of exposure to pressure, the mRNA amounts were decreased respectively to 0.3246 +/- 0.0957 and 0.2164 +/- 0.0171 in OD that were lower than that of the control in the respective same periods, and the differences between the experimental and the control had no significance (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated hydrostatic pressure may increase expression level of collagen III mRNA by LCCs in a certain period.
Luo
X
X
Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan 430022.
Wei
H
H
Qu
S
S
Zhang
J
J
D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*
D024061:Collagen Type III; D012333:RNA, Messenger