Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine whether ceruloplasmin (Cp) participates in the retinal pathophysiology associated with human glaucoma and to determine the localization of expression of this protein in the glaucomatous human retina.
Methods: :
Enucleated eyes with (n=6) and without (n=6) glaucomatous retinal pathology from the Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory Archive of The Mount Sinai School of Medicine were used. Glaucomatous eyes had severe retinal ganglion cell dropout. Sections from the specimens were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis with an antibody specific for Cp. Cp immunoreactivity was compared between glaucomatous and non–glaucomatous eyes. Staining with antibodies against glutamine synthetase was used to help in the localization of Cp immunoreactivity.
Results: :
Five out of six glaucomatous eyes stained for Cp. Immunoreactivity in non–glaucomatous eyes was absent. When present, most of the Cp immunoreactive protein was localized to the inner retina in a pattern consistent with its presence in the Müller cells.
Conclusions: :
Retinal Cp immunoreactivity is increased in the retina of patients with glaucoma. Increased immunoreactivity of ceruloplasmin may indicate its participation in the retinal pathophysiology of this disease.
Keywords: retinal degenerations: cell biology • Muller cells • immunohistochemistry