title: Biological effects of blocking blue and other visible light on the mouse retina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To elucidate the biological effects of blocking fluorescent light on the retina using specific blocking materials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven- to 8-week-old BALB/c mice were divided into three groups and placed in one of the three boxes: one blocked ultraviolet and violet wavelengths of light (violet blockade), one blocked ultraviolet, violet, blue and some other visible wavelengths (blue-plus blockade), and one allowed most visible light to pass through (control). They were then exposed to a white fluorescent lamp for 1 h at 5.65E-05 mW/cm(2) /s. After treatment, the electroretinogram, retinal outer nuclear layer thickness and retinal outer segment length were measured. In addition, retinal apoptotic cells were quantified by TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling assay and c-Fos messenger RNA, and protein levels were measured by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot analyses, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The blue-plus blockade group retained a significantly better electroretinogram response following light exposure than the control or violet blockade groups. The blue-plus blockade group also exhibited greater outer nuclear layer thickness and greater outer-segment length, and fewer apoptotic cells after light exposure than the other groups. The c-Fos messenger RNA and protein levels were substantially reduced in the blue-plus blockade group and reduced to a lesser extent in the violet blockade group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The blockade of blue plus additional visible wavelengths of light was most effective in protecting the retina from light-induced damage. The blockade of violet light alone was also effective in reducing intracellular molecular responses, but these effects were not sufficient for attenuating retinal degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Retinal Cell Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Narimatsu
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozawa
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Kenya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yuki
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsubota
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects; D004596:Electroretinography; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology*; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055351:Retinal Neurons; D055214:Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Outer Segment / Q000473:pathology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: apoptosis; c-Fos; light; photoreceptor; retina