Regulators of Oxidative Stress Are Activated in the rds Mouse Retina

Abstract

Purpose: : To perform a temporal analysis of oxidative stress markers in the rds/rds mouse.

Methods: : Reduced glutathione (GSH) and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-ΚB) were measured in retinas obtained at postnatal days 11, 15, 21, and 33 from the slow retinal degeneration (rds) mouse model for retinitis pigmentosa and from congenic controls. GSH concentration was measured by HPLC and NF-ΚB (p65) was determined in the retinal nuclear extracts using ELISA .

Results: : Levels of the antioxidant defense molecule GSH decreased in wt retinas with age, but were found in contrast to increase with age in rds retinas. NF-ΚB activation was also increased in the nuclear extract of rds retinas with age.

Conclusions: : In rds retinas, at the same time that photoreceptors die and oxidative stress increases, several mechanisms are activated, probably in an attempt to minimize its effects, such as an increase in GSH concentration. The role of NF-ΚB activation is not clear. Pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic roles of NF-ΚB in neuronal and glial cells have been identified. In addition, it has also been suggested that NF-ΚB modulation may play a role in the retinal degeneration through microglial activation.

Keywords: apoptosis/cell death • antioxidants • photoreceptors