Expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor after induction of ocular hypertension in the retina of rats.
BACKGROUND
Glaucoma is mainly characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells. Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is believed to stimulate the regeneration of axons of retinal ganglion cells. The objective of our study was to detect the expression of CNTF in the retina of a rat glaucoma model with increased intraocular pressure (IOP).


METHODS
The rat glaucoma model was set up by electrocoagulating at least three episcleral and limbal veins. The location and the expression level of CNTF were detected at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days post-surgery by immunohistochemistry, semiquantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blot analysis.


RESULTS
The rat glaucoma model with chronic, moderately elevated IOP was successfully produced. A minimum expression of CNTF was found in the ganglion cell layer of the retinas of the control group, and temporally increased expression and intensity of CNTF were found in the experimental retinas.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of endogenous CNTF in the rat retina was found altered after the induction of ocular hypertension.
Wu
Qiang
Q
Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai No. 6 People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200233, China.
Zhang
Min
M
Song
Bei-wen
BW
Lu
Bin
B
Hu
Ping
P
D000818:Animals; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D003720:Densitometry; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor