June 2013
Volume 54, Issue 15
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2013
Neuroglobin in the developing retina
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Ranjan Rajendram
    UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
  • Harry Bradshaw
    UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
  • Philip Luthert
    UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
  • Robin Ali
    UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
  • James Bainbridge
    UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships Ranjan Rajendram, None; Harry Bradshaw, Bayer [New Zealand] Limited (R); Philip Luthert, None; Robin Ali, None; James Bainbridge, Novartis (F), Alimera (C), Gene Signal (C), Advanced Cell Technology (F), Targeted Genetics (P), Oxford Biomedica (C), GSK (F)
  • Footnotes
    Support None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2013, Vol.54, 3742. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      Ranjan Rajendram, Harry Bradshaw, Philip Luthert, Robin Ali, James Bainbridge; Neuroglobin in the developing retina. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2013;54(15):3742.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose: To investigate Neuroglobin (Ngb) mRNA levels, protein expression and distribution during retinal development. Neuroglobin is a neuronal globin that was discovered in 2000. It is found at the highest concentration in the retina and it is believed to be protective in hypoxic-ischaemic injury and in stroke. Ngb may play an important role in O2 storage / transport, detoxification of reactive oxygen species, and/or protection against apoptosis.

Methods: We used real-time PCR to examine Ngb mRNA levels, Western Blot and immunohistochemistry to examine protein levels and distribution in the retina from wild type C57 BL6 mice from embryonic through to postnatal development stages.

Results: In the developing mouse retina there was a 21-fold increase in Ngb mRNA level from embryonic day 15 (E15) to postnatal day 30 (P30). There was a 44% increase in Ngb mRNA level between E18 and E 20, and a 34% increase between P7 and P14. Western Blot showed a 2.4-fold increase in Ngb protein from E17 to P2, rising to 2.8-fold peak expression at P6 (compared to E17), followed by a 37% reduction in Ngb protein concentration from P6 to P30. Immunohistochemistry showed that during embryonic / early retinal development (E18-P2), Ngb protein is expressed diffusely throughout the retina with a high concentration in the inner retina, particularly in the ganglion cells. At P14 Ngb protein expression is most pronounced in the photoreceptor inner segments, the inner and outer plexiform layers and in the ganglion cells and this pattern intensifies through to P30.

Conclusions: Ngb is found in retinal regions which have the highest levels of oxygen consumption and are rich in mitochondria. The retina undergoes very rapid developmental change pre and post-natally and there is a dramatic change in the oxygen environment at birth. Spikes in mRNA levels just before birth and at P7, and spikes in protein expression at birth and P6 followed by a reduction in Ngb protein levels to P30, suggest that Ngb plays a critical role in retinal development and apoptosis.

Keywords: 698 retinal development • 426 apoptosis/cell death • 635 oxygen  
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×