Age-related changes in rat retina

PURPOSE: To describe the changes in rat retina occurring with ageing by means of histological methods, scanning electron microscopic observations and morphometrical data; and to study by means of biochemical methods the amount of protein content in retinal tissues. METHODS: Samples of fresh retinal tissue obtained from young, adult, and aged rats were studied by means of traditional histological methods and by scanning electron microscopy. Particular attention was paid to morphometrical data and to the changes which occur with ageing. With the aid of a quantitative analysis of images, a large amount of morphometrical data was collected. Moreover, the amount of protein content in retinal tissues has been determined. RESULTS: Retinal thickness significantly decreases with age. The ganglion cells seem to be more vulnerable to age-related loss than other retinal cells. The number of retinal capillaries is diminished with age. The intercellular connections between photoreceptors, the number of cellular processes, and the number of synaptic bodies of the bipolar cells also decrease significantly with age. These results were all confirmed by scanning electron microscopy observations and morphometrical findings. Biochemical dosage of proteins demonstrates that retinal tissues decrease with age. CONCLUSIONS: All morphological, morphometrical, ultrastructural and biochemical data are concordant in demonstrating that the retinal tissues of rats undergo specific changes with age. Our findings are in agreement with those described by previous authors and underline that the rat retina can be considered an optimal model for studies on neuronal maturation and/or neuronal ageing. Since our data have confirmed that many changes occur in rat retina with ageing, we can hypothesize that rat retina is particularly sensitive to developmental changes and to senile decay.     

Age-related changes in sympathetic neurotransmission in rat retina and choroid

While age-related night vision loss and age-related macular degeneration are well characterized, less is known about the normal aging process in the retina and choroid. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), beta1- and beta2-adrenergic receptor gene and protein expression are altered in the retina and choroid with age. The retina and choroid were dissected from F344xBNF1 hybrid rats aged 8, 22, and 32 months. Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were conducted to determine steady-state mRNA and protein expression. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was conducted to localize DBH protein expression in the retina. DBH protein expression was substantially decreased with age in the retina, particularly in the outer nuclear layer, with no changes in DBH expression noted in the choroid. There was a significant increase in beta1-adrenergic receptor protein expression in retinal samples at 22 months, while beta2-adrenergic receptor protein expression was not affected by age. Decreased expression of DBH with age in the retina could lead to reduced production of norepinephrine, potentially resulting in an increase of beta1-adrenergic receptor expression due to denervation supersensitivity. Gene expression for DBH, beta1- and beta2-adrenergic receptors were observed to peak at 22 months and return to baseline levels by 32 months of age in the choroid. Our findings suggest that the retina may be more sensitive to age-related loss of sympathetic neurotransmission than the choroid, which may partially explain normal age-related vision loss in the elderly.     

Age-related changes in the human retina

BACKGROUND: In a previous study, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed age-related changes in the rat retina. We carried out a study to evaluate age-related changes in the human retina. METHODS: Samples of fresh retinal tissue obtained from younger (age 22 years or less) and older (age 66 years or more) donors were studied by means of traditional histologic methods and by SEM. Eight retinas were obtained from four donors whose corneas had been used for transplantation, and four retinas were obtained from four subjects whose eyes had been enucleated owing to injury. All morphologic results were subjected to quantitative analysis of images. The concentration of cytoplasmic (free) and structural (tissue-associated) protein in retinal tissue homogenates was determined by means of biochemical methods. RESULTS: There was a decrease in all features studied with the exception of structural protein concentration. The mean retinal thickness (and standard error of the mean) was 426 (34.2) microm in the younger subjects and 261 (18.9) microm in the older subjects. The mean numbers of ganglion cells (and standard error of the mean) were 413.5/mm2 (32.3/mm2) and 256.2/mm2 (26.8/mm2) respectively, of capillaries 3.6/mm2 (1.4/mm2) and 1.8/mm2 (1.2/mm2) respectively, of synaptic bodies 122.4 (4.9) conventional units (CU)/area observed and 38.5 (1.6) CU/area observed respectively, of cellular processes 82.3 (3.1) CU/area observed and 13.1 (1.5) CU/ area observed respectively, and of intercellular connections 36.4 (2.5) CU/area observed and 14.3 (1.4) CU/area observed respectively. The mean concentration of total protein per milligram of fresh tissue (and standard error of the mean) was 92.1 (1.8) microg in the younger subjects and 78.7 (1.3) microg in the older subjects; the corresponding values for cytoplasmic protein were 27.6 (1.3) microg and 11.8 (0.8) microg, and for structural protein, 64.4 (1.6) microg and 86.9 (1.4) microg. All differences between the younger and older subjects were significant (p < 0.001) with the exception of mean concentration of cytoplasmic and of structural protein. INTERPRETATION: The human retina undergoes specific changes with aging. SEM provides new morphometric information regarding age-related changes in photoreceptor cells, bipolar cells and ganglion cells that increases our understanding of this topic. Our results may be adopted as a model or as normal values when studying other changes that may occur in the human retina in pathological conditions.     

Age-related alterations in retinal function

Age-related visual deficits that occur in the absence of recognized visual disease are frequently observed. Many of the optical factors contributing to these deficits have been delineated, but the contributing neurophysiological alterations have not been clearly defined. This investigation examined age-related variations in the retinal and cortical processing of visual information. Pattern-specific retinal potentials (pattern electroretinogram or PERG in this series) and cortical potentials (VECPs) were recorded from nine young visual normals (20–30 years) and nine healthy elderly individuals (70–80 years). All subjects had best corrected visual acuity of 20/30 or better. Checkerboard patterns (7.5–60 min. checks) were modulated in a counterphase mode (2.0 and 7.5 rps). PERGs and VECPs were simultaneously recorded. Significant age-related alterations in waveform amplitude and latency were observed for both biopotentials. The VECP alterations were largely the result of the reduction in retinal illumination associated with senile miosis, but this factor could not account for most of the observed PERG alterations. These results suggest that neurophysiological changes in the retina may underlie some of the visual deficits observed in healthy elderly adults.     

Age-related changes in the mouse outer retina.

PURPOSE: To define the physiological and structural changes that may accompany aging in the normal mouse retina. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were maintained under cyclic light for either 2, 6, or 12 months. After rod- and cone-mediated corneal electroretinograms (ERG's) were recorded from anesthetized animals, the retinal structure was quantitatively examined. Photoreceptor cell density was measured within 100-microm regions of the central superior and inferior retina. Cone photoreceptor subtypes were identified by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: The amplitudes of rod- and cone-mediated ERG's were reduced in older mice, although the overall ERG wave-form did not change appreciably and implicit times were not changed in an age-dependent fashion. In comparison, there was no significant age-related decline in rod or cone photoreceptor density. CONCLUSIONS: The amplitude of the mouse ERG declines with age. This change does not appear to reflect a change in the structural integrity of the photoreceptor cells. In functional studies of murine models of late-onset retinal disorders, it will be important to take these changes into consideration.     

Ultrastructural alterations in rat and cat retina and pigment epithelium induced by chloroquine

Chloroquine retinopathy in rats and cats was studied (in long-term experiments on rats the drug was injected into the stomach). We observed the slow development of the pathological process, accompanied by the appearance of membrane inclusions in GC, structural alterations in the RPE, and after 10 months complete destruction of the outer segments of the photoreceptors. In experiments on cats, after a single intravitreous chloroquine injection destruction of the photoreceptors, similar to that observed in rats, was found 2 weeks after the injection. In the region of tapetum nigrum containing melanin photoreceptors were safe. These data suggest the protective effect of melanin on the process of chloroquine retinopathy. This work is part of research project 790555, which receives financial support from the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases     

Insights on retina and optic nerve metabolism during rat aging

Little is known concerning the biochemical response of the various tissue components of the optic pathway to aging. The in vitro incorporation of radioactive precursors into RNA and lipids of whole retina, as well as into glycerophospholipids of optic nerve was tested in male Wistar rats aged 4, 12, and 24 months. The results obtained suggested that RNA metabolism of rat retina (most likely photoreceptor cell layer) was not affected by the age, whereas phospholipid synthesis was on the contrary increased in comparison with that of the optic nerve, for which a serious impairment was observed. The physiological significance of this response, and the mechanism by which retinal tissue is spared from the general age derangement of the nervous system remain to be defined.     

色素上皮衍生因子对糖尿病大鼠视网膜谷氨酸代谢的影响

Objective To observe the effect of pigment epithelium-derived factor(PEDF)on glutamate metabolism in diabetic rat retina.Methods 78 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the model group,model control group,PEDF intervention group and intervention control group.There were some dead and euglycemia rats at the end of experiment,so only 12 rats in each group were included in the statistical analysis.The diabetic retinopathy rat model of the model,PEDF intervention and intervention control group were induced with streptozotocin injection.The rats in the model group were not intervened.The monthly-age matched normal rats of model group were in the model control group.The left eyes of rats were received intravitreal injection with 5μl(0.1μg/μl)PEDF(PEDF intervention group)or 5μlphosphate buffer solution(intervention control group).The expressions of L-glutamate/L-aspartate transporter in retina were analyzed by western blot and real time RT-PCR techniques and glutamate content in retina was analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography(HPLC).Cultured rat Mailer cells were divided into the control,experimental,PEDF intervention and intervention control group,GLAST expressions were detected by fluorescence immunofluorescence and real-time RT-PCR techniques.The glutamate up-take activity of Müller cells was determined by intracellular[3H] labeled D,L-glutamate concentration with scintillation counting.Results Western blot and real-time RT-PCR showed that GLAST expression decreased(real-time RT-PCR:t=8.86,P＜0.01;Western blot:t=3.42,P＜0.05).glutamate content increased(t=4.01,P＜0.05)in model group compared with the model control group:GLAST expression increased(real-time RT-PCR:t=3.56,P＜0.05;Western blot:t=3.52,P＜0.05),glutamate content decreased(y=4.36,P＜0.05)in the PEDF intervention group compared with the intervention control group.Real-time RT-PCR and fluorescence immunofluorescenee showed that high glucose down-regulate GLAST expressions in Müller cells(real-time RT-PCR:t=3.48,P＜0.05;fluorescence immunofluoreseence:t=4.72,P＜0.05)and impair glutamate up-take activity of Müller cells(t=3.81,P＜0.05).Under high glucose conditions,PEDF up-regulated GLAST expression significantly(real-time RT-PCR:t=6.82,P＜0.01;fluorescence immunofluorescence:t=3.72,P＜0.05)and ameliorated the glutamate up-take activitv of Mailer cells(t=4.14,P＜0.05).Conclusions In diabetic rats,PEDF may improve the activitv of GLAST in Müller cells,thus ameliorate retinal glutamate metabolism and inhibit death of retinal ganglion cells.     

色素上皮衍生因子对糖尿病大鼠视网膜谷氨酸代谢的影响

目的 观察色素上皮衍生因子(PEDF)对糖尿病大鼠视网膜谷氨酸代谢的影响.方法 Sprague_Dawley大鼠78只,分为模型组、模型对照组、PEDF干预组(干预组)、干预对照组,实验结束时去除血糖恢复鼠和实验期间死亡鼠,每组以12只大鼠作为统计样本.模型组、干预组、干预对照组大鼠采用链脲佐菌素诱导糖尿病大鼠模型.模型组大鼠不作任何干预,模型对照组为相同月龄的正常大鼠.干预组大鼠左眼玻璃体腔注射0.1 μg/μl的PEDF 5.0μl,干预对照组大鼠左眼玻璃体腔注射相同容积的磷酸盐缓冲液.采用蛋白免疫印迹法(Western bolt)和实时荧光聚合酶链式反应(PCR)法检测视网膜L-谷氨酸-L-门冬氨酸转运体(GLAST)表达的变化,高压液相色谱法(HPLC)观察视网膜谷氨酸的含量变化.将体外培养的大鼠视网膜Müller细胞随机分为对照组、实验组、PEDF干预组(干预组)和干预对照组,荧光免疫法和实时荧光PCR法检测Müller细胞GLAST表达的改变,根据[3H]标记的D,L-谷氨酸摄入量判断Müller细胞的摄取功能.结果 实时荧光PCR法和Western bolt检测结果显示,相对于模型对照组大鼠,模型组大鼠视网膜GLAST表达降低(实时荧光PCR法:t=8.86,P＜0.01;Western blot:t=3.42,P＜0.05),视网膜谷氦酸含量升高(t=4.01,P＜0.05);干预组大鼠视网膜GLAST表达与干预对照组视网膜GLAST表达比较,干预组大鼠视网膜GLAST的表达升高(实时荧光PCR法:t=3.56,P＜0.05;Western blot:t=3.52,P＜O.05);视网膜谷氨酸含量下调(t=4.36,P＜0.05).实时荧光PCR法和荧光免疫法检测结果显示,高糖可以降低视网膜Müller细胞GLAST的表达(实时荧光PCR法:t=3.48,P＜O.05;荧光免疫法:t=4.72,P＜O.05);[3H]标记的D,L-谷氨酸摄人量结果显示,高糖可以下调视网膜Mü1ler细胞GIAST的功能(t=3.81,P＜0.05);经PEDF处理后,可以明显改善高糖状态下视网膜Müller细胞GLAST的表达(实时荧光PCR法:t=6.82,P＜O.01;荧光免疫法:t=3.72,P＜0.05)和对谷氨酸的摄取功能(t=4.14,P＜0.05).结论 PEDF可通过改善糖尿病大鼠视网膜Müller细胞中GLAST功能从而改善谷氨酸循环,抑制神经节细胞的死亡.

Abstract：

Objective To observe the effect of pigment epithelium-derived factor(PEDF)on glutamate metabolism in diabetic rat retina.Methods 78 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the model group,model control group,PEDF intervention group and intervention control group.There were some dead and euglycemia rats at the end of experiment,so only 12 rats in each group were included in the statistical analysis.The diabetic retinopathy rat model of the model,PEDF intervention and intervention control group were induced with streptozotocin injection.The rats in the model group were not intervened.The monthly-age matched normal rats of model group were in the model control group.The left eyes of rats were received intravitreal injection with 5μl(0.1μg/μl)PEDF(PEDF intervention group)or 5μlphosphate buffer solution(intervention control group).The expressions of L-glutamate/L-aspartate transporter in retina were analyzed by western blot and real time RT-PCR techniques and glutamate content in retina was analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography(HPLC).Cultured rat Mailer cells were divided into the control,experimental,PEDF intervention and intervention control group,GLAST expressions were detected by fluorescence immunofluorescence and real-time RT-PCR techniques.The glutamate up-take activity of Müller cells was determined by intracellular[3H] labeled D,L-glutamate concentration with scintillation counting.Results Western blot and real-time RT-PCR showed that GLAST expression decreased(real-time RT-PCR:t=8.86,P＜0.01;Western blot:t=3.42,P＜0.05).glutamate content increased(t=4.01,P＜0.05)in model group compared with the model control group:GLAST expression increased(real-time RT-PCR:t=3.56,P＜0.05;Western blot:t=3.52,P＜0.05),glutamate content decreased(y=4.36,P＜0.05)in the PEDF intervention group compared with the intervention control group.Real-time RT-PCR and fluorescence immunofluorescenee showed that high glucose down-regulate GLAST expressions in Müller cells(real-time RT-PCR:t=3.48,P＜0.05;fluorescence immunofluoreseence:t=4.72,P＜0.05)and impair glutamate up-take activity of Müller cells(t=3.81,P＜0.05).Under high glucose conditions,PEDF up-regulated GLAST expression significantly(real-time RT-PCR:t=6.82,P＜0.01;fluorescence immunofluorescence:t=3.72,P＜0.05)and ameliorated the glutamate up-take activitv of Mailer cells(t=4.14,P＜0.05).Conclusions In diabetic rats,PEDF may improve the activitv of GLAST in Müller cells,thus ameliorate retinal glutamate metabolism and inhibit death of retinal ganglion cells.     

色素上皮衍生因子对糖尿病大鼠视网膜谷氨酸代谢的影响

Objective To observe the effect of pigment epithelium-derived factor(PEDF)on glutamate metabolism in diabetic rat retina.Methods 78 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the model group,model control group,PEDF intervention group and intervention control group.There were some dead and euglycemia rats at the end of experiment,so only 12 rats in each group were included in the statistical analysis.The diabetic retinopathy rat model of the model,PEDF intervention and intervention control group were induced with streptozotocin injection.The rats in the model group were not intervened.The monthly-age matched normal rats of model group were in the model control group.The left eyes of rats were received intravitreal injection with 5μl(0.1μg/μl)PEDF(PEDF intervention group)or 5μlphosphate buffer solution(intervention control group).The expressions of L-glutamate/L-aspartate transporter in retina were analyzed by western blot and real time RT-PCR techniques and glutamate content in retina was analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography(HPLC).Cultured rat Mailer cells were divided into the control,experimental,PEDF intervention and intervention control group,GLAST expressions were detected by fluorescence immunofluorescence and real-time RT-PCR techniques.The glutamate up-take activity of Müller cells was determined by intracellular[3H] labeled D,L-glutamate concentration with scintillation counting.Results Western blot and real-time RT-PCR showed that GLAST expression decreased(real-time RT-PCR:t=8.86,P＜0.01;Western blot:t=3.42,P＜0.05).glutamate content increased(t=4.01,P＜0.05)in model group compared with the model control group:GLAST expression increased(real-time RT-PCR:t=3.56,P＜0.05;Western blot:t=3.52,P＜0.05),glutamate content decreased(y=4.36,P＜0.05)in the PEDF intervention group compared with the intervention control group.Real-time RT-PCR and fluorescence immunofluorescenee showed that high glucose down-regulate GLAST expressions in Müller cells(real-time RT-PCR:t=3.48,P＜0.05;fluorescence immunofluoreseence:t=4.72,P＜0.05)and impair glutamate up-take activity of Müller cells(t=3.81,P＜0.05).Under high glucose conditions,PEDF up-regulated GLAST expression significantly(real-time RT-PCR:t=6.82,P＜0.01;fluorescence immunofluorescence:t=3.72,P＜0.05)and ameliorated the glutamate up-take activitv of Mailer cells(t=4.14,P＜0.05).Conclusions In diabetic rats,PEDF may improve the activitv of GLAST in Müller cells,thus ameliorate retinal glutamate metabolism and inhibit death of retinal ganglion cells.     

Glycogen metabolism in an amphibian retina

The rate of incorporation of [3H]glucose into glycogen was determined in bullfrog retina incubated in vitro in dark and in the light. The rate of incorporation for glucose was found to be approximately two-fold greater in the dark than in the light, 0.108 vs. 0.061 nmol mg-1 protein min-1, respectively. The turnover rate for glycogen was found also to be approximately two-fold greater in the dark than in the light, 0.051 vs. 0.027% min-1, respectively.     

Rapid glutamatergic alterations in the neural retina induced by retinal detachment

PURPOSE: Retinal detachment induces neurochemical changes in the neural retina over a span of days to weeks. However, little information is available on the acute response in the retina to detachment. METHODS: Distribution of the neurotransmitters glutamate, glycine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the metabolic amino acids aspartate and glutamine was examined immunocytochemically from 5 to 30 minutes and at 3 hours after retinal detachment in a salamander eyecup preparation. RESULTS: Glutamate showed a rapid depletion from neuronal cell bodies in detached retina, whereas Müller cells, which normally sequester and metabolize glutamate, showed increased immunolabeling for glutamine. Changes occurred exclusively in detached retinal regions of the eyecup. Aspartate, a precursor for glutamate synthesis, also showed decreased labeling in neuronal cell bodies in detached retinal regions, although these changes were not as striking as those observed for glutamate. In contrast, the distributions of the inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitters glycine and GABA were not affected appreciably by acute retinal detachment. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that retinal detachment induces rapid, localized alterations in the glutamatergic system of the neural retina that are consistent with a massive efflux of neuronal glutamate and concomitant alterations in glutamate metabolism. An acute efflux of neuronal glutamate in detached retina could contribute to excitotoxicity and to the initiation of structural alterations and changes in gene expression; it is also consistent with reported neurochemical changes associated with longer term retinal detachment.     

Age-related accumulation of free polyunsaturated fatty acids in human retina.

The present study reports composition of free (nonesterified) as well as total (sum of free and esterified) fatty acids (FAs) in human retina (n = 13). For free fatty acid (FFA) analysis, retina tissue was homogenized, total lipids were partitioned with ethyl acetate and subsequently applied onto a aminopropyl (NH2) cartridge to isolate FFAs from the bulk of other lipids. FFAs were converted to methyl ester derivatives and analysed by gas chromatography using flame ionization detector. Analysis of FFAs revealed that the mean percentage composition of the major components including palmitic acid (PA), stearic acid (SA), oleic acid (OA), arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were 17.2, 36.7, 15.6, 8.8 and 14.2%, respectively. There were significant correlations between age of the donors' and the content of both free AA and DHA (rPearson = 0.69, p = 0.005, and rPearson = 0.64, p = 0.009). The mean percentage of total PA, SA, OA, AA and DHA were 22.6, 23.2, 17.7, 11.4 and 21.9%, respectively. There was no association between age and any of the major FAs. The present study provides the first evidence for the presence of FFAs in the human retina as well as an age-related accumulation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The latter finding suggests an alteration in the metabolism of retinal PUFAs which can be due to an increase of oxidative stress and/or decrease of antioxidant defences during ageing.     

Sorbitol metabolism in retina studied in vitro

A new method is described which allows study of the retinal sorbitol metabolism in vitro. Bovine retinal tissue was incubated in tissue culture medium for 24 h and after this time showed only small morphological changes. The sorbitol content doubled at a glucose level of 5.5 mM compared with freshly prepared noncultured retina. Increasing glucose concentrations led to a gradual increase of the sorbitol content. Supplementation of the culture medium with fructose likewise enhanced the retinal sorbitol accumulation. An aldose reductase inhibitor (ICI 128436; Statil) significantly decreased the sorbitol content.Supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council (12X-07475), the Swedish Diabetes Association, the Nordic Insulin Fund, the Swedish Hoechst Diabetes Fund, and Clas Groschinsky's Memorial Fund