[Relationship between glucocorticoid receptors in the peripheral blood lymphocytes and trabecular meshwork and glucocorticoid induced glaucoma].
OBJECTIVE
To measure the number of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in the trabecular meshwork and peripheral blood lymphocytes of rabbits, and to explore their relationship with steroid-induced glaucoma.


METHODS
Steroid-induced glaucoma model was induced by subconjunctival injection of 0.5 mg dexamethasone in the right eyes every two days for a month. Before the injection, GR concentration was measured in peripheral blood lymphocytes and trabecular meshwork of rabbits using the radio-ligand binding assay. GR concentration was measured again 30 days after the injection. The data was analyzed with SPSS software.


RESULTS
The GR concentration in the peripheral blood lymphocytes and the trabecular meshwork of rabbits was (3642 +/- 947) site/cell and (2437.85 +/- 733.93) dmp/mg, respectively. The expression level in lymphocytes was significantly correlated with that in the trabecular (r = 0.862, P < 0.01). After treated with dexamethasone, the intraocular pressure of rabbits increased significantly, and the GR concentration in peripheral blood lymphocytes decreased significantly. Elevating level of IOP correlated positively with the primary and decreasing level of GR (r = 0.78, 0.79, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
GR concentration in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of rabbits can reflect directly the GR number in the trabecular meshwork. There may be a close relationship between the GR number in peripheral blood lymphocytes and steroid-induced glaucoma.
Zhang
Hong
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, China. dr_zhanghong@sina.com
Zhao
Guo-hong
GH
Zhang
Qi
Q
Dong
Xue-chuan
XC
Hu
Wei-kun
WK
Xie
Er-juan
EJ
Li
Gui-gang
GG
D000818:Animals; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000633:toxicity; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000378:metabolism*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D003907:Dexamethasone