Immunohistochemical localization of galectin-3 in the pig retina during postnatal development.
OBJECTIVE
The differential level and localization of galectin-3 protein were examined in the retinas of two-day-old pigs and six-month-old pigs.


METHODS
The retinas sampled from two-day-old and six-month-old pigs were analyzed by western blot and immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
western blot analysis detected galectin-3 in both age groups, although the levels were significantly higher in six-month-old pigs. Immunohistochemical staining showed that galectin-3 was localized in the retinas of both two-day-old pigs and six-month-old pigs; the galectin-3 immunostaining was more intense in the six-month-old pig retina, as shown in the western blot analysis. Galectin-3 was expressed in glial cells, particularly in glutamine synthetase-positive Müller cells and their processes, across all retina layers in both age groups; however, it was not found in ganglion cells of the ganglion cell layer or neuronal cells of the inner and outer nuclear cell layers in either age group.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first demonstration that galectin-3 is detected in the retinas of two-day-old pigs and that the expression in Müller cells increases with postnatal development.
Kim
Jihoon
J
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, South Korea.
Moon
Changjong
C
Ahn
Meejung
M
Joo
Hong-Gu
HG
Jin
Jae-Kwang
JK
Shin
Taekyun
T
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D021381:Protein Transport; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D034421:Sus scrofa
D037502:Galectin 3; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase