青光眼视网膜神经节细胞凋亡的研究进展

青光眼视神经损伤的最后共同通路为视网膜神经节细胞的凋亡。但确切机制尚未阐明。为此,人们进行了大量相关体内、体外实验并取得一定成果。本文从凋亡的激发因素、信号传导及基因调控加以阐述。     

糖尿病视网膜病变中细胞凋亡的研究进展

糖尿病视网膜病变引起的视力丧失目前已经引起了广泛的关注,但是由于糖尿病是一种多种机制作用的复杂疾病,对它的研究尚不清楚.本文就近期糖尿病视网膜病变中各种发病机制所致的视网膜血管和神经节细胞凋亡的有关研究做一综述.提示在糖尿病视网膜病变中各种机制均可引起视网膜血管和神经节细胞的凋亡,细胞凋亡在糖尿病视网膜病变的发生和发展中起着重要的作用.     

葛根素对糖尿病视网膜细胞凋亡作用的研究进展

糖尿病的发病率逐年上升,其并发症的严重性日趋明显,特别是糖尿病视网膜病变导致视力下降和丧失已经引起了广泛关注,所以研究糖尿病视网膜病变的发病机制及其防治是必要的。糖尿病视网膜病变是一种多种机制共同作用的复杂性疾病,而细胞凋亡在糖尿病视网膜病变的发生和发展中起着重要的作用,所以研究细胞凋亡对糖尿病视网膜病变的治疗有着重要意义。由于细胞凋亡研究的深入,人们将注意力集中于糖尿病视网膜细胞凋亡能否得到抑制和逆转的问题上。研究发现,糖尿病视网膜病变细胞凋亡可能与视网膜新生血管形成、VEGF水平增高等因素有关。当前对葛根素的研究表明,葛根素能有效抑制视网膜新生血管形成,并且对于缺血、缺氧等因素引起的损害有很强的改善作用,葛根素还可以降低糖尿病糖基化终产物水平,甚至对视网膜超微结构的损害具有一定的保护作用,所以葛根素可能是治疗糖尿病性视网膜病变的新策略。本文就近期糖尿病视网膜病变中细胞凋亡的有关研究和葛根素的抗细胞凋亡作用做一综述,提示在糖尿病视网膜病变中葛根素的不可忽视的作用。     

两种青光眼模型的比较

目的:研究前房灌注高眼压和视神经横断损伤两种模型病理变化的不同.方法:高眼压模型制备采用前房灌注生理盐水法,形成100 cmH<,2>O高眼压,诱导大鼠视网膜缺血60 min,建立急性青光眼模型;视神经损伤模型制备采用SD大鼠球后视神经切断法.两只方法都是在模型建立7天后断头处死大鼠并取标本,HE染色,光镜下观察视网膜各层厚度及视网膜节细胞形态和数量的变化.结果:两种模型都导致了视网膜节细胞的明显减少;前房加压导致视网膜内层厚度降低,视神经阻断法导致视网膜全层厚度降低.结论:前房灌注法使眼压升高更符合青光眼的病理变化过程,是比较好的模型.     

视网膜神经节细胞的纯化和体外存活

We had used a specific anti-Thy 1.1 antibody binding method and a nylonmembrane sieve method to isolate and purify retinal ganglion cells from neonatal rats in order to compare the effect of tectal extract on these purified cells retinal ganglion cells. Isolated retinal cell suspension with retinal ganglion cells retrograde-prelabelled with Fast Blue were seeded on culture dishes coated with the specific anti-Thy 1.1 antibody for 30 minutes before nonadherent cells were removed. The percentage purity of the adherent retinal ganglion cells determined microscopically to be 95%. However, the percentage purity of the Fast Blue-labelled retinal ganglion cells recovered using the nylon membrane of pore size 15 microns was only 60 +/- 5%. Retinal ganglion cells purified by both methods could survive and grow into large, active neurons with neurite outgrowths in the presence of tectal extract. A MTT colorimetric microassay was used to quantify the survival growth activity of these purified retinal ganglion cells after culture for 24 hours. The result showed that the optical density ratio (+Te/-Te) of the retinal ganglion cells purified by anti-Thy 1.1 antibody binding method was 12.3 (0.111/0.009) and by the nylon membrane method was 6.4 (0.102/0.016), and the optical density ratio of the non-purified retinal cells was 3.8 (0.095/0.025), p less than 0.01 for all 3 sets of results. It was concluded that in the absence of other cells, the purified retinal ganglion cells responded specifically to the trophic activity in tectal extract, the purer the retinal ganglion cells and the clearer the effect.     

视网膜神经节细胞空间传输特性的模拟

以新近提出的同心圆感受野模型为基础。从感受野大工上周区内各亚区之间的抑制性相互作用入手,对视网膜神经节细胞的各种空间传输特性进行了模拟,通过改变外周亚区间抑制性相互作用的敏感度和有效范围,可逼真地模拟神经节细胞的各种不同的面积反应函数,用该模型来处不同空间频率的正弦光栅时,它既能很好地传递图像的高频成份,又可十分有效地提升被感受野中心／外周拮抗机制所衰减了的低频信息,此外,由于该模型引进了外周亚区     

视神经远端切断后再生视网膜节细胞Bcl-2的表达

目的　成年金黄地鼠视神经远端切断后再生视网膜节细胞 (RGCs)Bcl 2的表达与再生的关系。方法　远端切断视神经并对接一段自体坐骨神经 ,玻璃体内注射CTx及 /或植入小段坐骨神经分支 (SN)。动物随机分为AG +CTx组 ;AG +SN组 ;AG +SN +CTx组 ,各组动物分别存活 4W ,用粒蓝 (GB)逆行标记和Bcl 2免疫荧光组织化学双标法观察再生的RGCs和Bcl 2表达。结果　再生RGCs胞质内有Bcl 2蛋白表达 ,玻璃体内给予CTx或植入SN组表达Bcl 2的再生RGCs分别为 32 2± 4 71和 2 9 4± 3 75个 ,约占其再生总数的 82 5 0 %及 80 96 % ,两组相比无显著性差异 (P >0 0 5 ) ;CTx与SN联用组Bcl 2阳性再生的RGCs为 15 1 8± 35 6 9个 ,占再生总数的 91 2 2 % ,与前两组相比 ,均有显著性差异 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　视神经远端切断后约 80 %的再生RGCs有Bcl 2表达 ,提示Bcl 2表达可能与节细胞再生有密切关系。     

北京鸭视网膜节细胞的大小、密度和分布

采用Nissl染色法、视神经溃变法和神经元逆行追踪标记辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)法,研究了北京鸭视网膜节细胞(RGCs)的大小和密度及其分布的变化。北京鸭RGCs形态多样,有圆形、椭圆形和多角形等,RGCs总数为1.3×106个(P0),RGCs平均密度为5370个/mm2(P0),在视网膜中央有一个偏向鼻侧的高密度区即中央高密度区(8860个/mm2),由中央区至周边部,细胞密度逐渐降低,颞侧周边部最低(3440个/mm2)。不同区域RGCs大小差异显著,中央区以小细胞为主(62.2±23.3μm2,P0),而周边部RGCs逐渐增大,颞侧周边部最大(P0:133.7±75.7μm2;P8:152.9±55.9μm2)。由此可见,伴随RGCs大小由中央区至周边部的递增而细胞密度呈现递减的变化,这种变化趋势在颞侧周边部最明显。与此同时,随日龄增长,RGCs总数和密度均递减而细胞大小递增。dACs是位于视网膜节细胞层的小神经元,细胞大小为23.7±4.0μm2     

小鸡视网膜神经节细胞的反应特性: 多电极记录研究

视网膜主要进行视觉信息的初级加工和处理. 应用多电极记录技术, 对一小块保持功能活性的小鸡视网膜上的多个神经节细胞的电活动进行同步记录, 然后通过相关非线性分析方法检测提取动作电位. 对视网膜神经节细胞群体活动特性的分析, 说明了视觉信息不仅为神经元的放电频率所编码, 也为相邻神经元的协同放电活动所携带.     

视网膜神经节细胞的协同活动以及信息编码

在脊椎动物的视觉系统中,信息的初级处理发生在视网膜.随着多电极记录技术的发展,视网膜神经节细胞的协同活动在不同物种中被广泛地观察到.然而,协同活动在视觉信息处理中的作用还不清楚,并且存在一定的争议.本文回顾了近些年关于视网膜神经节细胞协同活动的相关研究,对协同活动的分类、检测以及生理功能进行讨论.     

Synaptic Degeneration of Retinal Ganglion Cells in a Rat Ocular Hypertension Glaucoma Model

Aims Glaucoma is a common neurodegenerative disease that affects retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons. Little is known of the synaptic degeneration involved in the pathophysiology of glaucoma. Here we used an experimental ocular hypertension model in rats to investigate this issue. Methods Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) was induced by laser coagulation of the episcleral and limbal veins. RGCs were retrogradely labeled with Fluoro-Gold (FG). The c-fos protein was used as a neuronal connectivity marker. Expression of c-fos in the retinas was investigated by immunohistochemistry at 5 days and 2 weeks after the induction of ocular hypertension. Both surviving RGCs as revealed by retrograde FG-labeled and c-fos-labeled RGCs were counted. Results The c-fos protein was mainly expressed in the nuclei and nucleoli of cells in the ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer in the normal retina. We also confirmed that c-fos was also expressed in the nuclei and nucleoli of RGCs retrogradely labeled with FG. There was no significant RGC loss at 5 days but about 13% RGC loss at 2 weeks after the induction of ocular hypertension. The number of RGCs expressing c-fos was significantly lower in the experimental animals at both 5 days and 2 weeks than normal. Conclusion Our study suggests that there is synaptic disconnection for RGCs after ocular hypertension and it may precede the cell death in the early stage. It may provide insight into novel therapeutic strategies to slow the progress of glaucoma. Qing-ling Fu and Xin Li contributed equally to this work.     

Up-regulated Endogenous Erythropoietin/Erythropoietin Receptor System and Exogenous Erythropoietin Rescue Retinal Ganglion Cells after Chronic Ocular Hypertension

Aims Recent studies have showed that erythropoietin (EPO) is a neuroprotectant for central nerve system neurons in addition to being a hematopoietic cytokine in response to hypoxia. In this study, we investigate the role of the EPO/EPO receptor (EPOR) system in the rat retina after ocular hypertension injury that mimics glaucoma. Methods Elevated intraocular pressure was induced by laser coagulation of the episcleral and limbal veins. Expression of EPO and EPOR in the normal and glaucomous retinas was investigated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. To examine the effects of endogenous EPO on the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) subjected to hypertensive injury, soluble EPOR was directly injected into the vitreous body. Recombinant human EPO was both intravitreally and systemically administrated to study the effect of exogenous EPO on the survival of RGCs after ocular hypertension injury. Results Immunohistochemistry studies identified Müller cells as the main source of EPO in the normal retina. Expression of EPO and EPOR proteins was increased significantly 2 weeks after ocular hypertension. RGCs, amacrine and bipolar cells all demonstrated an increased expression of EPOR after ocular hypertension. Neutralization of endogenous EPO with soluble EPOR exacerbated ocular hypertensive injury, suggesting a role of the EPO/EPOR system in the survival of RGCs after injury. Similarly, topical and systemic administration of recombinant human EPO rescues RGCs after chronic ocular hypertension. Conclusions These results indicate that an endogenous EPO/EPOR system participates in intrinsic recovery mechanisms after retina injury and RGCs might be rescued by exogenous administration of EPO.     

A Retinal Ganglion Cell Neurotrophic Factor Purified from the Superior Colliculus

Dissociated neonatal rat retinal ganglion cells can be maintained by the addition of an extract from the neonatal superior colliculus. This extract can support 95% of ganglion cells over 24 h in culture; in addition it promotes the expression of neurites from these cells. This report describes the purification of a neurotrophic factor from the superior colliculus which supports the survival of 80% of retinal ganglion cells over 24 h in vitro. The purification procedure involves a combination of dye-ligand, anion-exchange, and molecular sieve chromatography. The purified neurotrophic factor has a Stokes radius of approximately 200 A using molecular sieve chromatography in the presence of a chaotropic agent. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified factor indicates that it is a glycoprotein that migrates with a molecular mass greater than 400 kDa. Further characterization of this high-molecular-mass glycoprotein by enzymatic digestion demonstrated that it is a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan. This factor is clearly distinguishable from other neurotrophic factors that have an effect on retinal ganglion cells such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor and fibroblast growth factor. The chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan from the neonatal superior colliculus is the first proteoglycan to be identified as a neurotrophic factor.     

Uptake and Anterograde Axonal Transport of Aleuria Lectin in Retinal Ganglion Cells of the Rabbit

A fucose-specific lectin from Aleuria aurantia was used to study the dynamics of neuronal membrane glycoproteins. Albino rabbits received vitreal injections of affinity-purified 125I-Aleuria lectin. The radioactive probe was internalized by adsorptive endocytosis into retinal ganglion cells, and transported intact down to the nerve terminals in the contralateral geniculate bodies and superior colliculi. We found that the radiolabeled lectin was transported with at least two distinct rates (I, approximately 205 mm/day; II, approximately 45 mm/day) corresponding to the two rapid phases of anterograde transport of endogenous polypeptides described earlier in this system. This is the first evidence that an exogenous macromolecule may be transported along the axon at more than one velocity.     

神经节细胞群体同步放电模式编码的感受野特性

应用多电极同步记录技术,对牛蛙视网膜神经节细胞在伪随机棋盘格刺激下的放电活动进行胞外记录。依据记录到的神经节细胞放电情况,利用一种数据压缩算法,通过最大化压缩放电序列的信息熵,对多个神经节细胞进行群体划分,得到同步放电神经节细胞群体。利用基于动作电位的刺激平均法(spike triggered average,STA),分别计算出每个同步放电神经节细胞群体内单个神经节细胞放电活动所编码的感受野(单细胞感受野),以及群体内所有神经节细胞同步放电活动所编码的感受野(群体感受野)。计算结果显示,对于所有神经节细胞群体,约80%神经节细胞群体的群体感受野面积小于群体内所有单细胞感受野面积的平均值,约60%神经节细胞群体的群体感受野面积小于群体内任意单细胞感受野面积。在棋盘格刺激下,神经节细胞放电活动会发生对比度适应。进一步以群体感受野面积小于群体内任意单细胞感受野面积的神经节细胞群体为研究对象,考察群体感受野在对比度适应过程中的动态变化,结果显示,85%神经节细胞群体的群体感受野面积在适应后期变小。     

Retinal Ganglion Cell Dendritic Atrophy in DBA/2J Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a complex disease affecting an estimated 70 million people worldwide, characterised by the progressive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and accompanying visual field loss. The common site of damage to retinal ganglion cells is thought to be at the optic nerve head, however evidence from other optic neuropathies and neurodegenerative disorders suggests that dendritic structures undergo a prolonged period of atrophy that may accompany or even precede soma loss and neuronal cell death. Using the DBA/2J mouse model of glaucoma this investigation aims to elucidate the impact of increasing intraocular pressure on retinal ganglion cell dendrites using DBA/2J mice that express YFP throughout the retinal ganglion cells driven by Thy1 (DBA/2J.Thy1(YFP)) and DiOlistically labelled retinal ganglion cells in DBA/2J mice. Here we show retinal ganglion cell dendritic degeneration in DiOlistically labelled DBA/2J retinal ganglion cells but not in the DBA/2J.Thy1(YFP) retinal ganglion cells suggesting that a potential downregulation of Thy1 allows only ‘healthy’ retinal ganglion cells to express YFP. These data may highlight alternative pathways to retinal ganglion cell loss in DBA/2J glaucoma.     

A Pixel-Encoder Retinal Ganglion Cell with Spatially Offset Excitatory and Inhibitory Receptive Fields

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Enhanced Survival of Melanopsin-expressing Retinal Ganglion Cells After Injury is Associated with the PI3 K/Akt Pathway

In the present study, we studied the factors that contribute to the injury-resistant property of melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells (mRGCs). Since phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3 K)/Akt signaling pathway is one of the well-known pathways for neuronal cell survival, we investigated the survival of mRGCs by applying the PI3 K/Akt specific inhibitors after injury. Two injury models, unilateral optic nerve transection and ocular hypertension, were adopted using Sprague-Dawley rats. Inhibitors of PI3 K/Akt were injected intravitreally following injuries to inhibit the PI3 K/Akt signaling pathway. Retinas were dissected after designated survival time, immunohistochemistry was carried out to visualize the mRGCs using melanopsin antibody and the number of mRGCs was counted. Co-expression of melanopsin and phospho-Akt (pAkt) was also examined. Compared to the survival of non-melanopsin-expressing RGCs, mRGCs showed a marked resistance to injury and co-expressed pAkt. Application of PI3 K/Akt inhibitors decreased the survival of mRGCs after injury. Our previous study has shown that mRGC are less susceptible to injury following the induction of ocular hypertension. In this study, we report that mRGCs were injury-resistant to a more severe type of injury, the optic nerve transection. More importantly, the PI3 K/Akt pathway was found to play a role in maintaining the survival of mRGCs after injury.