Changes in localization of amino acids in the detached cat retina.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the distribution of amino acids (glutamate, aspartate, glutamine, GABA, glycine) in detached retinas with minimum postmortem artifact and to clarify the relation between amino acid distribution and histopathological change in the outer portion of detached retinas.


METHODS
Unilateral retinal detachment was produced in cats by injecting 0.25% sodium hyaluronate into the subretinal space using a glass micropipet. The eyes were fixed by perfusion for 10 min, 1, 3, 6 and 24 h, 2, 3 and 7 days after detachment and then examined under conventional light- and electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry.


RESULTS
For glutamate, aspartate and glutamine, the inner segments and perikarya of the photoreceptor cells, which were not immunopositive in the normal retinas, showed various degrees of immunoreactivity immediately after retinal detachment. Photoreceptor cells with the strong immunoreactivity developed necrosis. The staining pattern of GABA and glycine scarcely changed during the course of retinal detachment.


CONCLUSIONS
Excess intracellular glutamate, aspartate and glutamine in photoreceptor cells may cause a part of neuronal death after retinal detachment.
Sasoh
Mikio
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan. sasoh@clin.medic.mie-u.ac.jp
Ma
Ning
N
Ito
Yoshikazu
Y
Esaki
Koji
K
Uji
Yukitaka
Y
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D000596:Amino Acids