Abstract
Purpose: :
Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) is known as one of the guidance proteins of nerve fibers. We investigated the localization of Sema3A in normal rat corneas, one of the most sensitive tissues in the body.
Methods: :
Adult Whister rats were evaluated in this study. Western blotting and PCR were applied for detecting protein or mRNA of Sema3A. Frozen-sectioned corneas or corneal blocks were stained for Sema3A, actin, nuclei, neurofilament, zonular occludin- 1, or connexin 43. All the stained samples were observed with a laser confocal microscope.
Results: :
Sema3A protein and mRNA were detected in normeal rat corneas. Immunostaining for Sema3A revealed the expression of Sema3A in wing cells and basal cells in epithelium, keratocytes, endothelium. The expression pattern of Sema3A in epithelium was not identical to that of connexin 43. ZO-1 positive epithelial cells were identically negative staining of Sema3A.
Conclusions: :
Sema3A was revealed to be expressed in almost all corneal cells not but in epithelial superficial cells.
Keywords: cornea: basic science • cornea: epithelium • cornea: stroma and keratocytes