Perinatal hypoxia induces subsequent retinal degeneration in the offspring of ovoviviparous fish, Xiphophorous maculates.
OBJECTIVE
This experiment evaluated the perinatal hypoxic effect on the retina of offspring of the ovoviviparous fish.


METHODS
The ovoviviparous fish Xiphophorous maculates was used for the experiment.


METHODS
The mothers were kept in a hypoxic environment of 3.5% oxygen for 6 h, starting 30 h before hatching. Subsequently, the retinae of the offspring were fixed, sectioned at 6 microm and evaluated microscopically from the age of 1 to 35 days.


RESULTS
Degeneration of the outer nuclear layer of the retina was noted on the 3rd day and severe retinal degeneration was observed on the 35th day. Immunocytochemistry confirmed apoptosis by TUNEL reaction. There was no difference in neovascularization, as revealed by vascular endothelial growth factor, between controls (group 1) and hypoxic fish (group 2).


CONCLUSIONS
Perinatal hypoxia could have long-lasting effects on the central nervous system in some species.
Lü
Lan-Hai
LH
Institute of Cell Biology, Medical School of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Li
Ji-Cheng
JC
Wai
Maria Sen Mun
MS
Lam
Wai Ping
WP
Forster
E Lucy
EL
Fang
Ma-Rong
MR
Yew
David T
DT
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D003532:Cyprinodontiformes; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000662:veterinary; D011897:Random Allocation; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000662:veterinary; D013045:Species Specificity; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors