title: Expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ in rat retina during development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the spatiotemporal expression pattern of PPARγ in embryonic and early postnatal stages of rat retina.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fetal rats were collected at 13-18d of gestation (GD) from pregnant females and postnatal rats at 1d (P1) and 5d (P5) after birth were also used. We used RT-PCR to detect PPARγ mRNA and immunohistochemical to observe PPARγ protein. And at last, we chose HE staining showed the structural changes of rat retina during development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RT-PCR analysis showed that PPARγ mRNA was expressed as early as GD13 and gradually decreased as maturation continued. However, the PPARγ gene expression significantly increased after birth, especially in P5. Immunohistochemical analysis showed PPARγ protein was expressed throughout the retinal neuroepithelium at GD13 and GD14, and then decreased during late embryogenesis but remained relatively high in the predicted ganglion cell zone. During postnatal development, PPARγ protein was remarkably increased and the positive signals were mainly located in nerve fiber layer (NFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL) and outer layers of the retina.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The spatiotemporal changes of PPARγ expression demonstrated that PPARγ might play a role in regulating the differentiation and maturation of retinal cells.
authors.affiliation: The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nantong Medical College, Yancheng City No.1 People's Hospital, Yancheng 224006, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Ju-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Eye Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hu
keywords: development; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ; rat retina