[Changes in glial fibrillary acidic protein and growth-associated protein-43 expressions in retinal ganglial cells during axonal regeneration].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the changes in the expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and growth- associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in retinal ganglial cells after neural transplantation.


METHODS
Thirty-nine rats were randomized into normal control group, nerve amputation group and nerve amputation with peripheral nerve transplantation group. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the changes in the expressions of GFAP and GAP-43 at different time points after the operations, and real-time PCR was employed to detect the mRNA expressions of 13 genes in the retinal ganglial cells of the rats.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemistry showed obviously increased GFAP expressions in the retina following the nerve amputation. GFAP expression was down-regulated while GAP-43 expression upregulated in the retinal ganglial cells after peripheral nerve transplantation. Real-time PCR results showed that 5 days after the operations, retinal GFAP and GAP-43 expressions increased significantly in the nerve amputation group and peripheral nerve transplantation groups as compared with those in the control group, but GAP-43 expression decreased significantly in the former two groups afterwards.


CONCLUSIONS
The regenerated retina may adjust the production of GFAP. The retinal ganglial cells express GAP-43 during retinal regeneration. Up-regulation of the expression of GAP-43 provides the evidence for nerve regeneration following the nerve transplantation.
Zeng
Yong
Y
First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical College, Kunming 650031, China. zengyong@ydyy.cn
Wan
Jing
J
Wan
Kun
K
Li
Yuan-yuan
YY
Li
Li-yan
LY
Wang
Ting-hua
TH
Feng
Zhong-tang
ZT
Jin
Shun-xiang
SX
Li
Yan
Y
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons; D005260:Female; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000235:genetics*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000637:transplantation; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein