Layer Of Rat Retina Research Articles

Ultrastructural study on the photoreceptor layer in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The aim of this research was to investigate the ultrastructure of the photoreceptor layer of diabetic male Wistar rat retina. Ten apparently healthy Wistar adult rats (aged 75 days) were used and divided into two groups: (1) control group and (2) diabetic group (injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin 90 mg/kg). Samples were taken as small pieces from the retina near the optic disc and studied using a transmission electron microscope. Results showed that outer segments loss, scattered inner segments, and condense and pyknotic nuclei and karyolysis were obvious in diabetic group. The quantitative evaluations of different layers of photoreceptor cells showed that a significant decrease was observed in outer segments, inner segments, and outer nuclear layers in diabetic group compared with control group. This study concluded that diabetes caused major signs of pathology in the ultrastructure of photoreceptor layer of the rat retina.

The Expression Pattern of Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein R in Rat Retina

The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) play important roles in DNA repairing, cell signaling, telomere biogenesis, and in regulating gene expression at both transcriptional and translational levels. In the present study, we demonstrated that the expression of hnRNP-R1 and hnRNP-R2 is developmentally regulated in rat retina. The neural specific isoform hnRNP-R2 is expressed in 7-day postnatal rat retina, but not in the adult retina. The positive immunohistochemistry signal of hnRNP-R1 is extensively distributed in the outer plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer and ganglion cell layer of rat retina. Double staining experiments showed that the positive signal of hnRNP-R1 is distributed in ON-type bipolar cells and localized in the cytoplasm, dendrites and axon terminals. In addition, the hnRNP-R1 distribution is regulated in rat retina during circadian. The present investigation suggests that hnRNP-R may play roles in retinal development and light-elicited cellular activities.

Acute high intraocular pressure increases synaptogenesis in the outer plexiform layer of rat retina

Acute high intraocular pressure increases synaptogenesis in the outer plexiform layer of rat retina

Alternative splicing of mGlu6 gene generates a truncated glutamate receptor in rat retina.

A novel splice variant of metabotropic glutamate receptor type 6 (mGlu6 receptor) was identified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequence analysis of rat retina cDNA. The new rat receptor isoform (mGlu6b receptor) is characterized by an additional exon of 88 nucleotides containing an inframe stop codon, thus predicting the expression of a truncated protein of 508 amino acids. In situ hybridization reveals mGlu6b receptor mRNA to be predominantly expressed in the outer part of the inner nuclear layer of rat retina, containing ON-bipolar cells. The mGlu6b protein would comprise the extracellular domain of the receptor containing the ligand-binding site, but would lack the transmembrane and intracellular portions, thus possibly acting as a retinal soluble receptor for glutamate.

Isoform PMCA3 of the plasma membrane calcium pump (ATPase) is localized in the inner plexiform layer of rat retina

Regulation of cytosolic Ca2+ is of critical importance for maintaining normal cellular function in the nervous system. Control of calcium homeostasis involves the Ca2+-ATPase of plasma membrane (PMCA) and other transporters. The presence of these regulatory molecules may not be a fixed characteristic of cells in a general sense. Rather, each class of cells may utilize a unique combination of transporters to maintain homeostatic control. In addition, unique distributions of transport molecules and their isoforms may exist in individual parts of cells imparting unique transport signatures to specific cell types. PMCA is a major regulator of calcium transport under normal physiological conditions. In order to understand localization of PMCA isoforms in specific cells we have localized specific PMCA mRNAs by in situ hybridization and translated PMCA protein by immunocytochemistry. The present work is focused on localization of PMCA3, an isoform predominantly known to exist in brain and skeletal muscle, but not previously investigated in retina. We previously showed that mRNA encoding rat plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase isoform PMCA3 was localized in the granule cell layer of the cerebellum.