The temporal and spatial Norrin expression and significance in oxygen induced retinopathy

AIM: To detect the expression and location of Norrin in mouse retina with oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). METHODS: Retinal neovascular angiogenesis of OIR mouse was observed by FITC-Dextran filled retinamounts. Norrin, VEGF mRNA expression was studied by RT-PCR in control mouse retina on postnatal days 7, 10, 12, 17 and in OIR mouse retina on postnatal days 7, 8, 12, 12.5, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 19. Norrin protein expression and location was observed by immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: Retinal neovasculature was observed in OIR ischemic mouse on postnatal days 17. Norrin mRNA expression markedly increased in retina after hypoxia 12 hours, which was correlated with the upregulation of VEGF. The peak of increase in Norrin occurred at 24 hours, and levels then decreased slowly. Norrin was expressed in outer layers of retina of P15-17 OIR mice, and was not found in normal control mice retina. CONCLUSION: Increased levels of Norrin in OIR ischemic retina show temporal correlation with increased expression of VEGF. Increased Norrin locates in outer layers of retina. Norrin may play an important role in neovascular angiogenesis.     

大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)鱼苗视网膜组织结构与视觉特性

采用石蜡连续切片技术研究了初孵至50日龄大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)鱼苗的视网膜结构及视觉特性.测定了鱼苗发育过程中视网膜横切面上视锥细胞(CC)、外核层细胞核(ONN)和神经节细胞(GC)的数量变化,以及鱼苗经明暗适应后视网膜色素指数的变化.结果显示,2日龄仔鱼视网膜上出现色素层和视锥细胞层,为仔鱼开口摄食提供了视觉基础.5日龄仔鱼的视网膜没有运动反应.鱼苗从16日龄发育到30日龄,明暗适应后视网膜色素指数的差值显著升高(P＜0.01),表明视网膜出现了显著的运动反应.16-39日龄,鱼苗视网膜上CC、GC数量显著减少(P＜0.01),ONN数量显著增多(P＜0.01),39-50日龄,视网膜上CC、GC和ONN数量没有出现显著差异(P＞0.05).大菱鲆鱼苗变态前视网膜视敏度高,光敏性低,变态后视敏度降低,光敏性增强,视网膜逐步适应感受弱光的刺激,这与大菱鲆鱼苗变态后从浮游到底栖的生活习性相适应.变态后的大菱鲆光感受系统不发达.     

Assessment of retinal recognition technology as a biometric method for sheep identification

In order to assure effective traceability, food-producing animals must be identified by a tamper-proof and durable technique. With the advance in human biometric technologies, the deployment of retinal recognition technology for cattle identification and verification has been prompted. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of a commercially available retina biometric technology for sheep identification (i) by determining whether light conditions during retinal image capture (indoors and outdoors with shade) and different operators exerted any significant effect on the matching score of the built-in pattern matching algorithm; and (ii) by evaluating the recognition performance of the biometric system for enrolment of one retinal image per sheep and two retinal images per sheep (bimodal biometric system). Neither the light conditions nor the operators were found to have a statistically significant effect on the matching score values of the built-in algorithm; yet it was clear that the pupillary light reflex phenomenon played a major role in obtaining lower matching score values for retinal images taken outdoors. The recognition errors of the one-retina biometric system were estimated to be 0.25% for false matches and 0.82% for false non-matches. An improved bimodal biometric system, i.e., two retinas, that applies a decision criterion based on a simple OR logical operator and a sum of matching scores, has been proposed in this study in order to reduce both probabilities of false matches and false non-matches to near zero.     

Protective mechanisms of ginkgolide B on rat retinal cell apoptosis induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea

AIM: To investigate the protective mechanisms of ginkgolide B (GB) on rat retinal degeneration induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). METHODS: The rat retinal degeneration model was made. Photoreceptor cell apoptosis was measured by TUNEL assay. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in the different time points in the rat retina after treated with MNU was measured by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: The outer nuclear layer cell apoptotic index in GB treatment group was significantly lower than that in model group (P<0.01). The bcl-2/bax mRNA ratios at scheduled time points of 12 h, 1 d, 2 d, 3 d and 5 d after MNU injection in model control were 0.36, 0.15, 0.29, 0.42 and 0.64, respectively, while the ratios in GB group were 0.98, 0.92, 0.53, 0.45 and 0.68, respectively, larger than those in model control group (P<0.01). No Bcl-2 positive expression was detected at any scheduled time points after MNU injection in model control group. Strong positive Bcl-2 expression was detected in GB group 1 d after MNU injection, decreased at the 2nd day and disappeared at the 3rd day. Compared with model control group, the Bax expression in GB group was significantly decreased (P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Ginkgolide B effectively inhibits the apoptosis of photoreceptor cells. The mechanism of GB action may be related to the increase in the expression of Bcl-2 and the increase in the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax.     

Differentiation of neural stem cells after transplanted into vitreous and the effects on the regeneration of retina ganglion cells

AIM: To investigate the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) after transplanted into vitreous and the effects on the regeneration of retina ganglion cells (RGCs) after optic nerve microcrushed.METHODS: After optic nerve microcrushed in adult rat,2×10⁴/2 μL NSCs or 2 μL 0.1 mol/L PBS was injected into vitreous.Animals were divided into control group (MC group,MC+PBS group) and experiment group (MC+NSCs).Animals in each group were allowed to survive for 3,4,5 weeks,respectively.The regenerating RGCs were labeled retrogradely with granular blue,and the numbers of regenerating RGCs in each retina were observed under fluorescent microscope.In addition after 5 animals in MC+NSCs group survived for 4 weeks,rat eyeballs were removed and prepared as freezing microtome sections for observing the migration of NSCs and NF,GFAP,CNP immumodetection.RESULTS: Compared the mean numbers of regenerating RGCs between experiment group and control group at 3,4,5 weeks,the difference was significant (P<0.01).NSCs expressed NF,GFAP and CNP at 4 weeks and were not found to incorporate into retina.CONCLUSION: It suggests that NSCs enhance the RGCs regeneration after ON microcrushed and differentiate into neurons,astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.     

Chlorpyrifos-induced oxidative stress and histological changes in retinas and kidney in rats: Protective role of ascorbic acid and alpha tocopherol

This study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant effect of vitamins C and E against oxidative stress, apoptosis and histological changes of kidney and retina in CPF-treated rats. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups including the control group, the group treated orally with a single dose of CPF (63 mg/kg b.w.), the group injected intramuscularly (i.m.) with vitamin C (250 mg/kg b.w.), and intraperitonealy (i.p.) with vitamin E (150 mg/kg b.w.) daily for 7 days and the group treated with CPF (single dose) and injected with vitamins (for 7 days). The results showed that CPF induced apoptosis and severe oxidative stress as indicated by the significant increase in MDA and sFasL concentration and the significant decrease in GSH concentration in serum. Co-administration of vitamins C and E ameliorate these toxic effects and improved the histological pictures of kidneys and retinas. It could be concluded that combined administration of vitamins C and E is useful in the routine therapy for the protection against tissue damage induced by CPF.     

Conceptus-related measurements during the first trimester of bovine pregnancy

In order to determine the variability inherent in conceptus-related measurements in first trimester bovine pregnancies, conceptus and fetometric parameters from beef cattle pregnancies (n=103) estimated to be between Days 36 and 103 of gestation were examined. During this period, the protein concentration of amniotic fluid ranged between 0.181 and 0.501mg/mL. The amniotic fluid volume gradually increased from <1mL at Day 36 to 950mL at Day 103 (R(2)=0.9275) and amniotic compartment dimensions (length, R(2)=0.9713; width, R(2)=0.9802) increased predictably with fetal growth. Conversely, allantoic fluid protein concentration and volume correlated weakly with fetal age. A significant linear correlation existed between fetal crown rump length (CRL) and crown nose length (R(2)=0.9899) confirming that either measurement can be employed in the ultrasonographic estimation of fetal age. The amniotic compartment and fetometric data presented here have both research and clinical value, particularly in relation to fetal development evaluation and pregnancy viability diagnosis.