Expression of caspase-9 affected by AG on retina ofrats with chronic IOP elevation

AIM: To study caspase-9 expression on rat retina in theprocess of chronic elevation of IOP and the changes with theapplication of amino guanidine (AG), thus to investigate thepotential protective function of AG to rat retina with chronicelevation of IOP. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and Westernblot were used to observe retinal morphology and theexpression of caspase-9 at different time points of rat withchronic IOP elevation, both affected and not affected by theapplication of AG.·RESULTS: Compared with control group, as time passedretina of experimental group gradually had detectablemorphological changes. On 21^st day of chronic IOP elevation,retinas became thinner and the quantity of retinal ganglioncells (RGCs) decreased; caspase-9 expression increased,consistent with the morphological changes. The group usingAG presented relatively smaller morphology changes and lessexpression of caspase-9. CONCLUSION: Apoptosis-related gene caspase-9 plays apart in the process of chronic IOP elevation; AG protectsretina by down-regulating expression of caspase-9.