Prolonged rhodopsin phosphorylation in light-induced retinal degeneration in rat models

PURPOSE: The effects of various light-induced stresses on the retina were examined in the retinal degenerative rat model. METHODS: Retinal morphology and electroretinograms (ERGs) were analyzed after application of light-induced stress of several intensities (650, 1300, 2500, or 5000 lux). For evaluation of rhodopsin (Rho) function, the kinetics of Rho regeneration and dephosphorylation were studied by spectrophotometric analysis and immunofluorescence labeling with antibodies specifically directed toward the phosphorylated residues (334)Ser and (338)Ser in the C terminus of Rho. Retinal cGMP concentration was determined by ELISA. Expression levels of neurotrophic factors (FGF2, brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], platelet-derived growth factor [PDGF], and ciliary neurotrophic factor [CNTF]) were evaluated quantitatively by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Light intensity-dependent deterioration of ERG responses and thinning of the retinal outer nuclear layer were observed in wild-type and Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat retinas. Under dark adaptation after light-induced stress, the kinetics of Rho regeneration were not different between wild-type and RCS rat retinas. Rho dephosphorylation at (334)Ser and (338)Ser was extremely delayed in RCS rat retinas compared with wild-type without light-induced stress, but Rho dephosphorylation at those sites became slower in both RCS and wild-type rat retinas. In terms of expression of neurotrophic factors, almost no significant changes were observed between the animals after light-induced stress. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that light-induced stress causes intensity-dependent deterioration in retinal function and morphology in wild-type and RCS rat retinas. Disruption of the phototransduction cascade resulting from slower kinetics of Rho dephosphorylation appears to be involved in retinal degeneration.     

Light-induced retinal degeneration in rdgB (retinal degeneration B) mutant of Drosophila: electrophysiological and morphological manifestations of degeneration

Quantitative light and electron microscopy was used to monitor the extent of retinal degeneration as a function of age and temperature in the white-eyed rdgBKS222 mutant of Drosophila melanogaster. Parallel measurements of the electroretinogram (ERG) of the degenerating retina reveal a new phenomenon--the appearance of spike potentials following illumination with bright light. These spikes, which do not appear in the normal fly retina, have a relatively long duration (20-50 ms), regenerative properties, and a rate of occurrence which increases with increasing light intensity. The spikes differed from the light response in being more susceptible to CO2 and to cuts in the eye. The spikes completely disappeared at low extracellular Ca2+ levels which did not reduce the amplitude of the light response. The spike potentials become triphasic when the recording electrode is advanced to the level of the basement membrane. This suggests that the spike potentials originate from the photoreceptor axons as a result of synchronous opening of voltage-dependent channels in a large number of photoreceptor cells. The occurrence of spike potentials during the process of degeneration was studied. Two pahses can be distinguished: (1) Spike potentials appear in retinae of 2-3-day-old flies which display few morphological signs of degeneration. The frequency of appearance of spike potentials decreases in retinae of 14-16-day-old flies which show extensive degeneration of the R1-6 photoreceptor cells but no degeneration of the central R7,8 cells. (2) Spike potentials appear more frequently again in flies of 22-24 d of age. This is probably a consequence of degeneration of the remaining R7,8 photoreceptor cells. Temperature and the light-dark cycle had a critical effect on degeneration. Eight-day-old mutants raised at 19 degrees C in a normal light-dark cycle showed only little degeneration. Eight-day-old mutants raised at 24 degrees C showed only a slight degeneration when raised in the dark. However, the degree of degeneration was greatly enhanced in the mutants raised at 24 degrees C under a light-dark cycle regime. The combined electrophysiological and morphological study of the degeneration, as a function of age and temperature, revealed that (1) the degeneration process takes place even in darkness, but at a slow rate, while light greatly accelerates the degeneration. (2) The degeneration is negligible at 19 degrees C, even during light, in the first week after eclosion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Alzheimer病与视网膜变性

Alzheimer病(Alzheimer's disease,AD)是一种进行性神经变性疾病,它是导致老年痴呆的主要原因且至今无法治愈.β淀粉样蛋白斑块沉积和tau蛋白引起的神经纤维缠结是导致AD患者大脑病变的两大主要机制.近来发现越来越多的AD患者除了意识和行为障碍,还存在眼部症状.有研究表明AD相关的β淀粉样蛋白斑块不仅沉积于大脑,同时累及视网膜,且视网膜病变较大脑病变更易观察诊断.因此,研究AD相关的视网膜变性不仅有助于深入了解脑部病变过程,为AD提供一种全新的简单有效的诊疗方法,也有益于研究如青光眼和年龄相关性黄斑变性等其他视网膜变性类疾病的病理机制.     

Behavioral and anatomical abnormalities in a sodium iodate-induced model of retinal pigment epithelium degeneration

We characterized changes in the visual behavior of mice in which a loss of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) was experimentally induced with intravenous (i.v.) administration of sodium iodate (NaIO3). We compared and correlated these changes with alterations in neural retinal structure and function. RPE loss was induced in 4-6 week old male C57BL/6 mice with an i.v. injection of 1% NaIO3 at three concentrations: 35, 50, or 70 mg/kg. At 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days (d) as well as 6 months post injection (PI) a behavioral test was performed in previously trained mice to evaluate visual function. Eye morphology was then assessed for changes in both the RPE and neural retina. NaIO3-induced RPE degeneration was both dose and PI time dependent. Our low dose showed no effects, while our high dose caused the most damage, as did longer PI times at our intermediate dose. Using the intermediate dose, no changes were detectable in either visual behavior or retinal morphology at 1 d PI. However, at 3 d PI visual behavior became abnormal and patchy RPE cell loss was observed. From 7 d PI onward, changes in retinal morphology and visual behavior became more severe. At 6 months PI, no recovery was seen in any of these measures in mice administered the intermediate dose. These results show that NaIO3 dosage and/or time PI can be varied to produce different, yet permanent deficits in retinal morphology and visual function. Thus, this approach should provide a unique system in which the onset and severity of RPE damage, and its consequences can be manipulated. As such, it should be useful in the assessment of rescue or mitigating effects of retinal or stem cell transplantation on visual function.     

小鼠与大鼠视网膜电图和闪光视觉诱发电位记录标准化方案建议

动物实验是生命科学研究的重要手段 ,视觉电生理现象就是首先在动物身上发现的。常规视觉电生理检查包括 :视网膜电图 (electroretinogram ,ERG)、图形视网膜电图 ( patternERG ,PERG )、眼电图(electrooculargram ,EOG)和视觉诱发电位(visualevokedpotentials ,VEP)项目。每项检查又可根据刺激模式、刺激条件和记录参数等分为不同的检查项目。这些检查项目能够从不同角度和视觉系统的不同水平反映视觉形成过程中生物电信号的变化 ,是当前公认的一种客观评价视觉功能的技术 ,被广泛用于临床诊断、疗效评价、司法鉴定和基础研究方面[1…     

A common microRNA signature in mouse models of retinal degeneration

Perturbed microRNA (miR) expression is a feature of, and may play a fundamental role in, certain disease states such as different forms of cancer. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) a group of inherited retinal degenerations is characterised by a progressive loss of photoreceptor cells and consequent visual handicap. We have previously reported an altered pan-retinal expression of miR-96, -183, -1 and -133 in a P347S-Rhodopsin transgenic mouse model of RP. As many different mutations in Rhodopsin and other genes such as RDS/Peripherin can lead to RP, it was of interest to explore whether the characterized retinal miR expression signature was observed in three other mouse models of RP linked to rhodopsin and rds/peripherin. Therefore, pan-retinal expression of miR-96, -182, -183, -1, -133 and -142 was analysed using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. A common signature of altered miR expression was found; expression of miR-96, -182 and -183 decreased by 14.1-53.2%, while expression of miR-1, -133 and -142 was up-regulated by 186.1-538.5%. Significantly, the detected pan-retinal miR signature was mirrored by similar miR expression profiles in FACS-isolated rod photoreceptors from these mice. In an attempt to understand the function of these miRs, corresponding target genes were predicted using computational means. Many ‘enriched’ targets (with binding sites for at least two of the above miRs) were found to be regulatory molecules and members of intracellular signalling circuits. However, further studies are required to highlight which of the large number of in silico predicted targets are actually controlled by these miRs.     

A common microRNA signature in mouse models of retinal degeneration

Perturbed microRNA (miR) expression is a feature of, and may play a fundamental role in, certain disease states such as different forms of cancer. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) a group of inherited retinal degenerations is characterised by a progressive loss of photoreceptor cells and consequent visual handicap. We have previously reported an altered pan-retinal expression of miR-96, -183, -1 and -133 in a P347S-Rhodopsin transgenic mouse model of RP. As many different mutations in Rhodopsin and other genes such as RDS/Peripherin can lead to RP, it was of interest to explore whether the characterized retinal miR expression signature was observed in three other mouse models of RP linked to rhodopsin and rds/peripherin. Therefore, pan-retinal expression of miR-96, -182, -183, -1, -133 and -142 was analysed using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. A common signature of altered miR expression was found; expression of miR-96, -182 and -183 decreased by 14.1-53.2%, while expression of miR-1, -133 and -142 was up-regulated by 186.1-538.5%. Significantly, the detected pan-retinal miR signature was mirrored by similar miR expression profiles in FACS-isolated rod photoreceptors from these mice. In an attempt to understand the function of these miRs, corresponding target genes were predicted using computational means. Many ‘enriched’ targets (with binding sites for at least two of the above miRs) were found to be regulatory molecules and members of intracellular signalling circuits. However, further studies are required to highlight which of the large number of in silico predicted targets are actually controlled by these miRs.     

Normal physiology and retinal degeneration in the Drosophila visual system

The Drosophila genetic system has been exploited to identify and analyze many genes that are responsible for the specialized cellular processes and biochemical mechanisms of the photoreceptor cell. The results establish that disruption of many different cellular processes can trigger retinal degeneration. The rhodopsin gene family provides an example in which mutations are known to trigger retinal degeneration in both vertebrates and invertebrates. The Drosophila research has established that dominant rhodopsin mutations disrupt the protein maturation process. This review emphasizes the unique and powerful experimental approaches of Drosophila that are being applied towards understanding the many causes of retinal degeneration.     

Relationship between retinal morphological findings and visual function in age-related macular degeneration

Background

We aimed to study the retinal morphological findings associated with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and their association with visual prognosis.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 96 consecutive patients (96 eyes) with exudative AMD. Retinal structural changes were examined using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Results

Initial OCT examination showed cystoid macular edema in 18 eyes (18.8%), fibrin exudate in 56 eyes (58.3%), and hyperreflective foci within the neurosensory retina in 78 eyes (81.3%). Upon initial examination, an external limiting membrane (ELM) line was detected under the fovea in 64 eyes (66.7%). Using Pearson’s correlation analyses, final visual acuity (VA) was correlated with initial VA (r?=?0.61, p?r?=?0.34, p?r?=?0.41, p?r?=?0.40, p?r?=?0.55, p?r?=?0.48, p?r?=?0.23, p?=?0.054), and detection of a foveal ELM line (r?=?0.36, p?=?0.008).

Conclusions

In eyes with exudative AMD, final VA was most correlated with initial VA. In addition, the initial integrity of the foveal outer retina was partially correlated with the visual prognosis. The initial ELM condition was associated with good final VA, while the initial presence of hyperreflective foci in the foveal neurosensory retina was associated with poor final VA.     

退行性视网膜病变中睫状神经营养因子神经保护作用的研究进展

多项体内外及临床试验结果均证实睫状神经营养因子(CNTF)对光感受器细胞具有良好的神经保护作用,同时也对视网膜多种神经细胞的结构和功能产生不同的影响.CNTF对光感受器细胞保护作用的分子机制涉及Stat、Erk及Akt等信号传导途径,其中Müller细胞发挥着重要作用.细胞包囊技术为CNTF提供了有效的给药途径,在多种退行性视网膜病变的动物模型中均取得良好疗效,其临床应用中的安全性和有效性正在进行评估,这将为CNTF进入临床应用奠定基础.(中华眼科杂志,2011,47:568-572)

Abstract：

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) has been showing neuroprotective effects on photoreceptors in a variety of in vivo and in vitro experiments and clinical trials. CNTF causes morphological and functional alterations in various retinal nerve cells. The neuroprotection mechanism of CNTF involves STAT-dependant, ERK-dependant, and Akt-dependant signaling technology (ECT) device is an efficient administration approach to deliver CNTF into the eyes, which is effective in retarding photoreceptor degeneration in several animal models with retinal degenerative diseases. The safety and efficiency of the device in clinical trials are also being evaluated currently for further clinical use in human eyes as a potential treatment.     

Transplanted retinal pigment epithelium modifies the retinal degeneration in the RCS rat

Transplantation of dissociated retinal epithelial cells obtained from the retinas of normal, congenic pigmented strain of rats to Bruch's membrane and the subretinal space of dystrophic rats from the Royal College of Surgeon (RCS) strain can prevent photoreceptor cell degeneration in this retina for at least 4 months after transplantation. Host and transplant cells form close apposition with one another but can be distinguished by the presence of both phagosomes and melanin granules in the transplant and the absence of these inclusions in the host retinal epithelium. Transplanted cells show excessive amounts of phagosomal material within 48 hr after transplantation, implying that restoration of phagocytosis is responsible for the photoreceptor survival.     

Relationship between electrophysiological,psychophysical, and anatomical measurements in glaucoma

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between electrophysiological, psychophysical, and structural measurements in normal and glaucomatous eyes and to test the hypothesis that there is a continuous structure-function relationship between ganglion cell numbers and visual field sensitivity. METHODS: Thirty-four normal subjects and 40 patients with glaucoma were examined with the pattern electroretinogram (PERG), perimetry and retinal tomography. Transient and steady state (SS) PERGs were recorded, and peak (P)-to-trough (N) amplitude was measured. The unit of differential light sensitivity (DLS) in perimetry is the decibel. The decibel is 10. log(1/Lambert), where the Lambert is the unit of test spot intensity. PERG amplitudes were correlated with decibel and 1/Lambert DLS for the central 18 degrees of the visual field and with neuroretinal rim area in the temporal part of the optic disc. Age-related changes in the structural and functional measurements were sought. The correlation between variables was investigated by linear and quadratic regression analysis. A quadratic (y = ax + bx(2) + c) fit was taken to be significantly better than a linear fit, if the coefficient (b) for the x(2) term was significant at P < 0.05. RESULTS: A quadratic fit between decibel DLS and PERG amplitude (transient PERG: R(2) = 0.40, P = 0.0000; SS PERG: R(2) = 0.32, P = 0.0000) was significantly better than a linear fit. There was a linear correlation between 1/Lambert DLS and PERG amplitude (transient PERG: R(2) = 0.44, P = 0.0000; SS PERG: R(2) = 0.35, P = 0.0000). There was a linear correlation between temporal neuroretinal rim area and PERG amplitude (transient PERG: R(2) = 0.17, P = 0.0003; SS PERG: R(2) = 0.20, P = 0.0001). A quadratic fit between decibel DLS and temporal neuroretinal rim area (R(2) = 0.38, P = 0.0000) was significantly better than a linear fit. There was a linear correlation between 1/Lambert DLS and temporal neuroretinal rim area (R(2) = 0.30, P = 0.0000). Both DLS and PERG amplitude declined with age in the normal subjects. The rate of decline was -0.17%, -0.74%, -0.75%, and -0.78% per year for decibel DLS, 1/Lambert DLS, transient PERG, and SS PERG, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There is a curvilinear relationship between decibel DLS and both PERG amplitude and neuroretinal rim area, and a linear relationship between 1/Lambert DLS and PERG amplitude and neuroretinal rim area. These findings support the hypothesis that there is no ganglion cell functional reserve but a continuous structure-function relationship, and that the impression of a functional reserve results from the logarithmic (decibel) scaling of the visual field.     

An electrophysiological study of retinal function in the diabetic female rat

PURPOSE: To examine retinal function in female Long-Evans rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. METHODS: Hyperglycemia was induced by IV injection of STZ, and ERG responses were recorded at 4-week intervals over 12 weeks. Oscillatory potentials (OPs) and responses to intermittent stimulation were analyzed with a custom computer program. The GABA-induced responses of individual rod bipolar cells were obtained from patch-clamp recordings, and immunohistochemistry was used to illustrate the retinal distribution of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and GABA(C) receptors. RESULTS: Hyperglycemia developed in rats 2 to 3 days after injection of STZ. Compared with previous reports of the effects of diabetes in male rats, visual function abnormalities appeared to be milder in STZ-treated female rats. No significant differences were observed in the sensitivity or amplitude of the a- or b-wave components of the ERG between diabetic and control animals, and both animal groups exhibited a similar time course of neuronal dark adaptation. In contrast, diabetic animals showed significant differences in the pattern of OPs and in the amplitudes of their responses to flicker. The accumulation of GABA in the inner retina of diabetic rats, combined with the results of patch-clamp recordings from individual bipolar cells, revealed that the circuitry underlying the GABA signal of the proximal retina is affected by hyperglycemia. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that changes in the GABA-signaling pathway may be the underlying cellular mechanism for altered ERG responses in STZ-induced diabetes in rats. Recognition of these early neurosensory defects would enable a better understanding of the pathophysiological basis of diabetic retinopathy.     

快速退变性视网膜变性感光细胞超微结构变化分析

目的 了解快速退变性遗传性视网膜变性的感光细胞在出生后早期发生的形态学变化,为临床治疗提供依据.方法 取出生后不同时间的rd小鼠及正常对照小鼠各6只的视网膜,经光镜、扫描电镜和透射电镜观察感光细胞的形态发生发育和结构变化过程,比较二者的动态变化和形态学差异.结果 rd鼠生后1周开始出现感光细胞节段变短,内节段内线粒体变性改变多见;偶见感光细胞核旁胞浆内出现肿胀变形的线粒体.2周时节段层变薄,内节段结构已不完整,外节膜盘少见,变形且排列不整齐;外核层细胞层数明显减少,可见核固缩及染色质凝聚,偶见外丛状层部分神经突起内出现变性的线粒体.3周时节段层近消失,外核层只剩一层细胞,胞浆内可见髓样结构;外丛状层变薄.4周时内节段高度变形,视网膜色素上皮层与外核层之间出现大量不成形结构.外核层仅残存少许胞体,胞浆内出现多量不成形结构.外丛状层极薄,部分区域已消失.结论 rd鼠在出生后早期就发生感光细胞的变性改变,细胞内线粒体改变明显.其感光细胞变性发生早,进展快,呈快速退变特点.     

Changes in visual sensitivity with age in rats with heredity retinal degeneration

Hereditary retinal degeneration in the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) strain of rat has been shown to produce extensive loss of photoreceptors and a corresponding decline of the electroretinogram, ganglion cell sensitivity, and the sensitivity of the pupillary light reflex. The behaviorally measured thresholds of RCS rats, on the other hand, are reported to be comparable to those for age-matched controls. We report here, that our own behavioral measurements show a clear difference between RCS rats and age-matched controls between four to twelve months of age. The difference in thresholds between RCS and control rats is about three long units at four months of age, and this difference progressively increases until at twelve months, we measure threshold differences of over seven log units.     

Subretinal transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells delays retinal degeneration in the RCS rat model of retinal degeneration

Because there is no effective treatment for this retinal degeneration, potential application of cell-based therapy has attracted considerable attention. Several investigations support that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be used for a broad spectrum of indications. Bone marrow MSCs exert their therapeutic effect in part by secreting trophic factors to promote cell survival. The current study investigates whether bone marrow MSCs secrete factor(s) to promote photoreceptor cell survival and whether subretinal transplantation of bone marrow MSCs promotes photoreceptor survival in a retinal degeneration model using Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats. In vitro, using mouse retinal cell culture, it was demonstrated that the conditioned medium of the MSCs delays photoreceptor cell apoptosis, suggesting that the secreted factor(s) from the MSCs promote photoreceptor cell survival. In vivo, the MSCs were injected into the subretinal space of the RCS rats and histological analysis, real-time RT-PCR and electrophysiological analysis demonstrated that the subretinal transplantation of MSCs delays retinal degeneration and preserves retinal function in the RCS rats. These results suggest that MSC is a useful cell source for cell-replacement therapy for some forms of retinal degeneration.     

N-甲基-N-亚硝基脲诱导大鼠视网膜变性早期基因表达谱分析

背景N-甲基-N-亚硝基脲（MNU）诱导的大鼠光感受器细胞凋亡可用于研究视网膜变性类疾病,但视网膜变性类疾病早期基因水平的研究尚未见报道。目的应用基因芯片技术研究MNU诱导的视网膜变性大鼠早期基因表达谱的变化。方法6周龄雌性SD大鼠50只分为正常组20只、12h模型组20只和24h模型组10只。模型组大鼠皮下注射MNU（40mg／kg）,正常组大鼠皮下注射等容量的生理盐水作为对照。分别于造模后12、12、24h处死正常组和12h模型组、24h模型组大鼠,大鼠右眼球进行常规视网膜组织病理学检查,正常组和12h模型组大鼠左眼的新鲜视网膜用基因芯片技术检测差异基因的表达,用荧光实时定量PCR（real—timePCR）法验证基因芯片技术检测出的差异表达率≥2．0的基因mRNA表达水平。结果全层视网膜厚度测量表明,24h模型组大鼠的厚度值明显低于正常组大鼠和12h模型组大鼠,差异均有统计学意义（t=9．926,P=0．002;t=2．736,P=0．028）。24h模型组大鼠外核层厚度值为（26．58±2．90）仙m,明显低于正常组的（38．11±1．01）μm和12h模型组的（35．07±3．03）μm,差异均有统计学意义（t=6．028,P=0．009;f=6．839,P=0．006）,正常组与12h模型组间大鼠全层视网膜厚度和外核层厚度值比较差异均无统计学意义（全层厚度：t=1．541,P=0．324;外核层厚度：t=2．040,P=0．134）。大鼠cDNA基因芯片技术检测结果表明,12h模型组大鼠全部17000个基因的表达谱中涉及生物过程的基因为142个,涉及分子功能的基因为94个,排除重复基因共有74个基因,差异表达基因主要涉及丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）通路、Toll样受体通路和细胞凋亡通路。对基因芯片技术检测的差异表达率≥2．0的基因进行的real．timePCR定量分析表明,CCL2、,L—Jb、CCL3、c-fos、c—myc、p53和MMP3基因mRNA表达值与基因芯片技术检测的表达趋势一致。结论MNU诱导的视网膜变性早期有明显的基因表达改变。基因芯片检测的基因表达改变结果与real—timePCR定量分析结果一致。