Ageing transition of superoxide dismutase in rat retina

To examine the relationship between retinal ageing and superoxide dismutase, the distribution and expression of the dismutase was studied in the retina of 2-year-old Sprague--Dawley albino rats with immunohistochemistry and immunochemical quantitative analysis. Eight-week-old Sprague--Dawley albino rats were used as controls. In 2-year-old rats, manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) immunoreactivities in the photoreceptor inner segments, the outer nuclear layer and the inner plexiform layer were stronger than those in 8-week-old rats. Copper--zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) immunoreactivities in the outer nuclear layer and inner plexiform layer of 2-year-old rats were stronger than those in 8-week-old rats. Faint CuZn-SOD immunoreactivity became visible in the photoreceptor inner segments of 2-year-old rats, whereas no CuZn-SOD immunoreactivity was observed in 8-week-old rats. Our immunochemical quantitative analysis also showed an increase in the immunoreactivities of superoxide dismutases in the sensory retina with age. The transition of the dismutases may have some relationship with retinal ageing. © 1998 Chapman & Hall