Changes in retinal αB-crystallin (cryab) RNA transcript levels during periods of altered ocular growth in chickens

Ashby, Regan S., Megaw, Pam L., and Morgan, Ian G. (2010) Changes in retinal αB-crystallin (cryab) RNA transcript levels during periods of altered ocular growth in chickens. Experimental Eye Research, 90 (2). pp. 238-243.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.exer.2009.10...
 
14
3


Abstract

Changes in retinal crystallin gene expression have been implicated in the development of myopia in animal models. We therefore investigated the expression of αB-crystallin (cryab) in the chicken retina during periods of increased ocular growth induced by form-deprivation and negative lens-wear, and during periods of decreased ocular growth induced by diffuser removal from previously form-deprived eyes, and plus lens-wear. Cryab RNA transcript levels in the chicken retina were measured using semi-quantitative real-time RT-PCR, at times between 1 h and 10 days after the fitting of diffusers or negative lenses, and at times between 1 h and 3 days following the removal of diffusers from previously form-deprived eyes, or the addition of plus lenses. Changes in expression for each condition at each time-point are analysed relative to expression in retinas from age-matched untreated control birds. No change in relative expression of cryab RNA transcript was detected 1 h after fitting diffusers to induce form-deprivation myopia. A transient increase in cryab RNA transcript expression was detected around 1 day later (p = 0.02), but expression returned to control levels after three days. After 7 (p = 0.005) and 10 (p = 0.001) days, retinal cryab RNA transcript expression progressively increased relative to controls. After removal of the diffusers, to initiate recovery, cryab RNA transcript expression remained elevated, with only a slight return to control levels. During the development of lens-induced myopia, no changes in cryab RNA transcript expression relative to controls were seen on day 1, but increases were seen at 10 days (p = 0.004). No significant changes in retinal cryab RNA transcript expression were seen in response to plus lenses compared to either contralateral control values (MANOVA; F = 0.60, p = 0.48) or age-matched untreated values (MANOVA; F = 4.10, p = 0.08). Changes in retinal cryab RNA transcript expression were not systematically related to changes in the rate of eye growth. The role of the transient increase in cryab expression observed after 1 day of form-deprivation, which was not seen after fitting negative lenses, is unclear. The later increases in relative cryab expression seen during the development of form-deprivation and lens-induced myopia occur too late to have a major role in the differential regulation of eye growth between experimental and control eyes. Given that cryab is a member of the small heat shock protein family, the later increases may reflect the emergence of cell damage related to high myopic pathology in the experimentally enlarged eyes and retina.

Item ID: 14992
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1096-0007
Keywords: myopia; retina; crystallin; RNA; eye growth; pathology
Date Deposited: 25 Nov 2010 00:10
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology > 060105 Cell Neurochemistry @ 50%
06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0606 Physiology > 060602 Animal Physiology - Cell @ 50%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9201 Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) > 920107 Hearing, Vision, Speech and Their Disorders @ 100%
Downloads: Total: 3
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page