title: Reduced NGF level and TrkA protein and TrkA gene expression in the optic nerve of rats with experimentally induced glaucoma.
abstract: Glaucoma (GL) is an optic neuropathy characterized by progressive loss of visual field due to retinal cell death and optic nerve (ON) degeneration, usually in response to abnormal elevated intraocular pressure (EIOP). It has previously demonstrated that cells of the ON express nerve growth factor (NGF) and NGF-receptors. Relatively little is known, however, about their role on the ON of the glaucomatous eye. The aim of the study was to elucidate this aspect. Using a rat model of GL we investigated the response of NGF and NGF-receptors in the ON of subjects with experimentally induced EIOP. Our results show that EIOP significantly impairs the presence of NGF and NGF-receptor proteins and TrkA gene expression in the ON of glaucomatous eye. These findings suggest that NGF and NGF-receptor might be important signals for the ON response in the EIOP.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine, Section of Neurobiology, National Research Council (CNR), Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64/65, I-00143 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sposato
authors.forename: Massimo Gilberto
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bucci
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coassin
authors.forename: Matteo Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lambiase
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aloe
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D020917:Receptor, trkA