猫视网膜年龄相关的形态学变化

取老年猫(12龄,3～3．5kg)和青年猫(1～3龄,2～2．5kg)各4只的视网膜,经4％多聚甲醛处理后,用H．E．染色以显示视网膜结构,Nissl染色显示神经节细胞,免疫组织化学ABC法染色以显示星形胶质细胞特征性标志物胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)的阳性反应细胞的分布。显微镜下观察测量视网膜厚度,计数神经节细胞、GFAP免疫反应阳性细胞数。与青年猫比较,老年猫视网膜总厚度以及外核层、外网状层、内核层和内网状层厚度均显著减小;神经节细胞层的细胞密度显著下降;GFAP免疫反应阳性细胞显著增加,GFAP阳性细胞阳性反应强,胞体明显膨胀,突起稠密粗大。推测在衰老过程中视网膜细胞有神经元丢失现象,可能是造成视觉功能衰退的重要原因之一;视网膜星形胶质细胞的功能增强可能会延缓衰老。     

模式生物海洋青鳉鱼的视觉结构与功能发育

目的通过对海洋青鳉鱼视觉器官的结构与发育情况进行组织观察,为进一步研究其行为学提供理论依据,同时也可为研究其他相关物种提供实验方法。方法将组织进行石蜡包埋切片处理,显微观察。结果海洋青鳉鱼的视觉器官发育快速,胚胎时期就已分化出眼球的色素层,有明显的眼球区域;刚出膜时,视网膜发育不完整,未分化出外核层和外网状层;出膜1 d,视网膜结构分化基本完成;6 d,已有明暗视觉功能;14 d,观察到明显的视网膜运动现象;23 d,视网膜结构发生较大变化,与该阶段海洋青鳉鱼的生活习性转变有密切联系;9~14月龄,视网膜各层的厚度均有所减小,表明视觉有一定程度退化。同时,内核层分化明显,感光细胞层的视椎细胞与视杆细胞呈紧密镶嵌的结构。结论海洋青鳉鱼视觉器官的发育过程阶段性明显,且有较好的光敏感性和视敏度强的特点。     

青年猫和老年猫视神经超微结构观察比较

目的探讨青年猫和老年猫视神经年龄相关的形态学变化及可能造成的生理影响。方法取4只青年猫(2-3岁,2-2.5kg)和4只老年猫(10-13岁,2.5-3.5kg)颅内相对应部分视神经,制作横向半薄切片和超薄切片,半薄切片用甲苯胺蓝硼砂溶液染色,光镜观察、测量视神经的直径(不含外层神经膜);超薄切片标本用醋酸和柠檬酸铅染色,电镜观察、计数视神经纤维密度、测量视神经纤维外径D(含髓鞘)和内径d(不含髓鞘),按一定分级范围算出各种直径的纤维及各种d/D比值的纤维所占百分比,分别画出直方图,对实验结果进行统计学分析并绘制纤维直径谱。结果与青年猫相比,老年猫视神经直径显著增大(P0.05);纤维数量显著下降(P0.05)。纤维直径谱分析结果显示,青、老年猫纤维直径分布范围相似,但老年猫纤维的峰直径及纤维平均直径比青年猫的显著减小(P0.05),老年猫视神经纤维的d/D比值亦明显降低。另外,老年猫视神经中部分轴突肿胀,髓鞘疏松、结构紊乱,板层脱离、空泡化,有的轴索髓鞘溶解。结论在衰老过程中,老年猫视神经纤维丢失,纤维直径减小,d/D比值下降,以及纤维髓鞘的松散解体,这些变化均可能导致视神经纤维对视觉信息的传导速度减慢,是老年个体视觉分析速度下降的重要原因。     

猫视皮层星形胶质细胞的老年性变化

电生理研究结果显示,在衰老过程中猫的视皮层神经元对视觉刺激的反应性出现显著的功能衰退,是否这种功能性衰退伴随胶质细胞活动的改变尚无直接的实验证据。以前期电生理实验猫为材料,用免疫形态学方法比较青年猫和老年猫初级视皮层内星形胶质细胞的活动状况。利用Nissl染色显示猫初级视皮层组织结构,用免疫组织化学方法（SABC法）显示GFAP免疫阳性（GFAP-IR）星形胶质细胞。光镜下观察、拍照,对GFAP-IR细胞计数并换算成密度,测量GFAP-IR直径取平均值。老年猫初级视皮层灰质各层及白质内的GFAP-IR细胞密度比青年猫的显著升高（p〈0.001）。与青年猫相比,老年猫视皮层灰质和白质中GFAP-IR细胞的平均直径均比青年猫的显著增大（p〈0.0001）,且老年猫视皮层内GFAP阳性免疫反应较青年猫的明显增强。老年猫初级视皮层神经元功能衰退伴随着星形胶质细胞活动的增强,胶质细胞活动增强有助于神经元之间的信息交流,因而可能对衰老过程中神经元的功能衰退起补偿作用。     

青年猫与老年猫初级听皮层GABA_A受体免疫表达的比较研究

目的对5只老年猫(12岁,3-3.5kg)与5只青年猫(2岁,3-3.5kg)初级听皮层(AI)γ-氨基丁酸(gamma-aminobutyric acid,GABA)A受体神经元进行免疫表达比较研究,探索老年猫与青年猫初级听皮层(AI)GABAA受体年龄性变化及产生可影响的生理作用。方法运用免疫组织化学反应与免疫印迹相结合的方法对不同年龄组动物(AI)组织进行染色。光学显微镜下观察、拍照;免疫组织化学阳性反应示GABAA R-IR(GABAA receptor-immunoreaction)神经元形态、密度及分布;免疫印迹示GABAA受体蛋白含量变化。结果老年猫的AI区GABAA R-IR神经元密度比青年猫的GABAA R-IR下降了29.19%,阳性反应强度减弱了20.7%,老年猫阳性反应细胞占神经元总数百分比比青年猫的减少了5.32%;老年猫的GABAA受体蛋白表达量比青年猫的下降了23.16%。结论初级听皮层GABAA受体细胞及受体表达下调可能是老年个体听觉功能减退的重要原因。     

猫视神经年龄相关的形态学变化

对4只青年猫(1-3龄)和4只老年猫(10-13龄)视神经进行形态计量比较研究。取两个年龄组的颅内相应部分视神经进行横向连续切片,H.E染色于光镜下观察其基本结构;相邻切片进行结晶紫染色显示胶质细胞;神经丝蛋白(NF)免疫染色显示视神经纤维,胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)免疫染色显示星形胶质细胞(AS),对实验结果进行统计学分析并绘制纤维直径谱。与青年猫相比,老年猫视神经外膜厚度、直径、面积均显著增加,视神经纤维的密度和数量显著下降,且以视神经中央部纤维密度下降最显著;纤维直径谱分析结果显示,青、老年猫纤维直径分布范围相似,但老年猫的峰直径及纤维平均直径比青年猫的显著减小;另外,老年猫视神经束中的星形胶质细胞明显膨大,胶质细胞密度以及星形胶质细胞占胶质细胞总数的百分比均显著增加。结果表明:在衰老过程中视神经纤维出现明显的丢失现象,纤维平均直径显著减小使其对视觉信息的传导速度减慢,这可能是导致老年个体视觉分析速度下降的重要原因;老年个体视神经束内胶质细胞活动增强可能对维持视神经纤维形态、功能或延缓视神经进一步衰老起保护作用     

老年猫视皮层细胞对刺激反应的对比敏感度下降伴随皮层内抑制作用减弱(英文)

对人类和动物的心理学研究证实,老年个体的视觉对比敏感度相对青年个体显著下降。为揭示其可能的神经机制,采用在体细胞外单细胞记录技术研究青、老年猫(Felis catus)初级视皮层(primary visual cortex,V1)细胞对不同视觉刺激对比度的调谐反应。结果显示,老年猫V1细胞对视觉刺激反应的平均对比敏感度比青年猫显著下降,这与灵长类报道的研究结果相一致,表明衰老影响视皮层细胞对视觉刺激反应的对比敏感度是灵长类和非灵长类哺乳动物中普遍存在的现象,并可能是介导老年性视觉对比敏感度下降的神经基础。另外,与青年猫相比,老年猫初级视皮层细胞对视觉刺激的反应性显著增强,信噪比下降,感受野显著增大,表明衰老导致的初级视皮层细胞对视觉刺激反应的对比敏感度下降伴随着皮层内抑制性作用减弱。     

S100蛋白在猫初级视皮层中分布及其年龄相关性变化

比较青年猫和老年猫初级视皮层(primary visual cortex)各层神经元密度,及S100蛋白在初级视皮层各层中的表达与分布,探讨其表达与分布的年龄相关性变化及意义.Nissl法显示初级视皮层各层神经元,免疫组织化学方法(SABC法)示S100蛋白免疫阳性(S100-IR)细胞.光镜下观察、拍照,计数初级视皮层各层中神经元密度和S100-IR细胞密度.S100-IR细胞在初级视皮层中分布呈现区域性特点,白质较灰质密集.与青年猫相比,老年猫初级视皮层神经元密度有下降,老年猫初级视皮层各层S100-IR细胞密度均有不同程度的显著增加(尤其是Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ层),胞体较大,阳性较强.动物衰老过程中,初级视皮层存在着明显的星形胶质细胞反应性增生,这种增生可能对灰质层中神经元的丢失有补偿作用,并对维持老年个体初级视皮层形态结构和延缓老年动物初级视皮层功能衰退具有积极意义.     

双峰驼视觉器官组织学结构的研究

通过光学显微镜对双峰驼Camelus bactrianus眼球的主要结构及附属结构泪腺进行了组织学研究,同时对眼球的一些光学参数进行了测量.双峰驼眼球呈不规则圆球形,角膜径与眼球径比值为1∶1.135,晶状体径与角膜径比值为1∶1.77.组织学结构上与一般哺乳动物差别不大.视网膜属于脊椎动物典型的10层结构,视网膜总厚度(除色素上皮层)约149.777 μm.其中外核层、内核层和神经节细胞层细胞数之间比值为2.66∶1∶0.12.神经节细胞核体积平均值为461.58 μm3.研究初步表明双峰驼视觉调节能力较强,具有某些夜行动物的特点.     

三江平原不同生境下小叶章茎解剖结构的比较

采用解剖学方法观察了三江平原3种不同生境(典型草甸、沼泽化草甸和沼泽)下小叶章茎的解剖结构。对厚角细胞层数、薄壁细胞层数、厚角细胞壁厚度、皮层厚度、维管束厚度和导管腔大小等6个参数进行了比较分析。结果表明,3种生境下生长的小叶章茎的结构组成基本相同,没有因生境的差异而产生某些特异性的结构,但各结构参数在数量、大小等方面均呈现出显著差异,表明小叶章对环境变化具有一定的结构适应能力。     

An electron microscopic study of retinal degeneration in Sprague-Dawley rats

Retinal degeneration in untreated, female Sprague-Dawley rats was studied by electron microscopy and horseradish peroxidase tracer technique. The degeneration appeared to have started at a very young age. The severity of the defect varied from a decrease of photoreceptor nuclei to total loss of receptor cells and the pigment epithelium. In mild degeneration some regions of the retinal pigment epithelium became bilayered and the basal plasma membrane became flattened or formed elaborate infoldings. Breaks in Bruch's membrane occurred in severe degeneration. Degeneration of the pigment epithelium allowed permeation of tracer material from the choroid into the retina.     

Radiation retinopathy: electron microscopy of retina and optic nerve.

A 4 1/2 year old female was treated for embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the left orbit in 1975 with radiation (59.5 Gy in 5 weeks), followed by chemotherapy. An electroretinogram (ERG) in March, 1988 revealed cone responses 3% of normal and no rod responses in the left eye, and normal responses in the right eye. The eye was enucleated in April 1988. In the fovea no choroidocapillaris was seen at the intact Bruch's membrane, and the pigment epithelium was preserved only in small patches. No photoreceptor cells were seen in the areas devoid of pigment epithelial cells. The parafoveal and peripheral (30 degrees eccentricity) retina was better preserved. The thickness of the layer of rods and cones and of Henle's fiber layer was reduced. Very few outer segments were present. Macrophages had invaded the retinal tissue in moderate numbers. The retinal vessels were ensheathed by several layers of collagen fibrils. The spatial densities of pigment epithelial, cone, rod, and bipolar cells had been reduced. The optic nerve contained a total number of 1,022,000 nerve fibers.     

Immunohistochemical localization of complement regulatory proteins in the human retina

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex disease. Genetic studies have found strong associations between AMD and variants of several complement pathway-associated genes. The regulation of the complement cascade seems to be critical in the pathogenesis of AMD. In 45 human donor eyes immunohistochemistry was performed using antibodies directed against major regulators of the complement system: complement factor H (CFH), decay accelerating factor (DAF/CD55), complement receptor 1 (CR1/CD35), and membrane cofactor protein (MCP/CD46). All eyes were classified in AMD and controls. 11 eyes were graded as early AMD. 34 eyes were controls. In all eyes staining was found in intercapillary pillars of choroid adjacent to Bruch's membrane for CFH, at the basal surface of RPE cells for MCP, and at the apical side of the retinal pigment epithelium for CR1. DAF immunoreactivity was increased along the inner segments of rod and cone photoreceptor cells at the level of the external limiting membrane Labeling of soft drusen was found for CFH and CR1. In addition, DAF and CR1 showed staining of ganglion cells in all eyes. CFH and particularly MCP showed decreased or absent staining in eyes with early AMD adjacent to Bruch's membrane. The overlapping expression of regulators at the level of Bruch's membrane and the retinal pigment epithelium shows the importance of this site for control of the complement system. Decreased and therefore unbalanced expression of regulators, as shown in this study for CFH and MCP, may ultimately lead to AMD.     

Demonstration of microfibrils in Bruch's membrane of the eye

The cationic dyes ruthenium red and alcian blue were used to visualize a population of microfibrils in Bruch's membrane, a compound basement membrane located in the uveal tract of the eye between the retinal pigment epithelium and choriocapillaris. Microfibrils were tubular structures, 10-12 nm in diameter, that showed a characteristic beaded pattern. The majority of microfibrils appeared as a dense mantle around the layer of amorphous elastin. Microfibrils and collagen fibers were also present as a loosely organized meshwork in the collagenous zone of the membrane. Microfibrils were also seen along the basal surface of the retinal pigment epithelium where they appeared to insert into the substance of the basal lamina. Ruthenium red staining of microfibrils was not abolished by prior exposure of tissue to several kinds of degradative enzymes. The findings suggest that the elastic properties of Bruch's membrane may depend on both the elastin and microfibrillar components.     

Collagen XVIII/endostatin is essential for vision and retinal pigment epithelial function

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) with abnormal deposit formation under the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the major cause of blindness in the Western world. basal laminar deposits are found in early ARMD and are composed of excess basement membrane material produced by the RPE. Here, we demonstrate that mice lacking the basement membrane component collagen XVIII/endostatin have massive accumulation of sub-RPE deposits with striking similarities to basal laminar deposits, abnormal RPE, and age-dependent loss of vision. The progressive attenuation of visual function results from decreased retinal rhodopsin content as a consequence of abnormal vitamin A metabolism in the RPE. In addition, aged mutant mice show photoreceptor abnormalities and increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the neural retina. Our data demonstrate that collagen XVIII/endostatin is essential for RPE function, and suggest an important role of this collagen in Bruch's membrane. Consistent with such a role, the ultrastructural organization of collagen XVIII/endostatin in basement membranes, including Bruch's membrane, shows that it is part of basement membrane molecular networks.     

Endothelin receptors in light-induced retinal degeneration

Excessive light exposure leads to retinal degeneration in albino animals and exacerbates the rate of photoreceptor apoptosis in several retinal diseases. In previous studies we have described the presence of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and its receptors (ET-A and ET-B) in different sites of the mouse retina, including the retinal pigment epithelium, the outer plexiform layer (OPL), astrocytes, the ganglion cell layer (GCL), and vascular endothelia. After light-induced degeneration of photoreceptors, endothelinergic structures disappear from the OPL, but ET-1 and ET-B immunoreactivities increase in astrocytes. Here, we present novel observations about the course of light-induced retinal degeneration in BALB-c mice exposed to 1500 lux during 4 days with or without treatment with tezosentan, a mixed endothelinergic antagonist. Retinal whole mounts were immunostained with anticleaved caspase-3 (CC-3) serum to identify apoptotic photoreceptor cells within the outer nuclear layer (ONL). Glial activation was measured as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity in retinal whole mounts and in Western blots from retinal extracts. Tezosentan treatment significantly reduced both the number of CC3-immunoreactive cells and GFAP levels, suggesting that inhibition of endothelinergic receptors could play a role in photoreceptor survival. Using confocal double immunofluorescence, we have observed that ET-A seems to be localized in bipolar cell dendrites, whereas ET-B is localized in horizontal cells. Our observations suggest the existence of an endothelinergic mechanism modulating synaptic transmission in the OPL. This mechanism could perhaps explain the effects of tezosentan treatment on photoreceptor survival.     

Fine structure of the retinal pigment epithelium of the mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

As part of a comparative morphological study, the fine structure of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), the choriocapillaris and Bruch's membrane (complexus basalis) has been investigated by light and electron microscopy in the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). In this species the RPE consists of a single layer of cuboidal cells which display numerous very deep basal (scleral) infoldings and extensive apical (vitreal) processes which enclose photoreceptor outer segments. The RPE cells are joined laterally by prominent basally-located tight junctions. Internally smooth endoplasmic reticulum is the most abundant cell organelle with only small amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum present. Polysomes are abundant as are basally-located mitochondria which often displayed a ring-shaped profile. The cell nucleus is large and vesicular. Melanosomes are plentiful only within the apical processes of the RPE cells in the light-adapted state. Myeloid bodies are large and numerous and very often have ribosomes on their outer surface. Bruch's membrane (complexus basalis) shows a pentalaminate structure but with only a poorly represented central elastic lamina. Profiles of the choriocapillaris are relatively small and the endothelium of these capillaries while extremely thin facing the retinal epithelium is but minimally fenestrated.     

Lack of causal relationship between clusterin expression and photoreceptor apoptosis in light-induced retinal degeneration

Induction of apoptosis in the retina leads to cellular death by molecular mechanisms that are not well understood. Clusterin expression is increased in tissues undergoing apoptosis, including retinal neurodegenerative states, but the causal relationships remain to be clarified. To gain insight into clusterin's role in photoreceptor apoptosis, the cellular distribution of clusterin mRNA was compared with the pattern of apoptotic nuclear labelling in a rat model of light-induced retinal degeneration. In control retinal sections, clusterin mRNA was localized to the retinal pigment epithelium cells, photoreceptor inner segments, inner nuclear layer, and ganglion cell layer. Clusterin expression decreased in photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium cells, which progressively degenerated, and increased in preserved inner nuclear layer, in proportion to the duration of light exposure in both cyclic light- and dark-reared animals. These results suggest that clusterin is not causally involved in apoptotic mechanisms of photoreceptor death, but may relate to cytoprotective functions.