The Degeneration and Apoptosis Patterns of Cone Photoreceptors inrd11Mice.
The retinal degeneration 11 (rd11) mouse is a new animal model with rapid photoreceptor degeneration. The long-term efficacy of gene therapy has a direct relationship with the onset of photoreceptor degeneration or apoptosis, whereas the degeneration or apoptosis patterns of photoreceptors are still unclear inrd11mice. The distribution patterns of cone function-related L- and S-opsin were examined by immunofluorescence staining, and the apoptosis was performed by TUNEL assay inrd11mice. The expression pattern of L-opsin or S-opsin inrd11retina at postnatal day (P) 14 was similar to the pattern observed in wildtype retina. With increasing age, the expression of L-opsin and S-opsin, especially S-opsin, decreased significantly inrd11mice. The degeneration of L-opsin began around the optic nerve and expanded to the periphery of the retina, from the ventral/nasal to dorsal/temporal retina, whereas the expression of S-opsin gradually decreased from the dorsal/temporal to ventral/nasal retina. Apoptotic signal appeared at P14 and was strongest at P28 ofrd11mice. The key genes associated with apoptosis confirmed those changes. These indicated that the degeneration and apoptosis of cone photoreceptors began at P14 ofrd11mice, which was a key point for gene therapy.
School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China.
Hua
0000-0001-5045-8739
H
Zhang
Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
Xia
X
Li
School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China.
Xufeng
X
Dai
Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, Shanxi 032200, China.
Juanjuan
J
Han
School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China.
Yangyang
0000-0002-8286-6216
Y
Zhang
Qingdao Eye Hospital, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong Academy of Medical Science, Qingdao 266000, China.
Yan
Y
Qi
School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China.
Ying
0000-0003-4503-9198
Y
He
School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China.
Yan
Y
Liu
The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA.
Bo
B
Chang
School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Ji-Jing
0000-0002-9235-7909
JJ
Pang