[Photoreceptor apoptosis and p53 gene expression in inherited retinal degeneration of RSC rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the gene regulation of photoreceptor apoptosis in inherited retinal degeneration.


METHODS
The retinas of inherited retinal degeneration in animal models of RCS (Royal College of Surgeons) rats, ranging from 13(th) to 60(th) postnatal days in age, were studied by TdT-mediated biotin-dUTP nickend labeling (TUNEL) for apoptosis, immunohistochemistry for p53 protein, in situ hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for p53 mRNA.


RESULTS
The photoreceptor of RCS rats underwent apoptosis from 25(th) postnatal day, and reached the highest level at 30 - 35(th) postnatal days. At the early stage of photoreceptor apoptosis, the level of p53 protein and mRNA in photoreceptors increased significantly. RT-PCR also showed that there was more production of p53 mRNA at 25 to 35(th) postnatal days in the retinas of RCS rats.


CONCLUSIONS
P53 gene expression increases significantly at the early stage of photoreceptor apoptosis, indicating that p53 gene might play a role in the regulation of photoreceptor apoptosis in inherited retinal degeneration.
Liu
B
B
Department of Ophthalmology, Third Clinical School, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100083, China.
Zhu
X
X
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D016158:Genes, p53; D008297:Male; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53