Expression of AP–1 in lens epithelium following ocular blunt trauma

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To examine if ocular blunt trauma activates expression of transcription factors in lens epithelial cells without any direct effect on the lens tissue. Expression of mRNAs of AP–1 components, c–fos and c–jun, were examined. Methods: Adult Wistar rats (n=36) were generally anesthetized by ether inhalation. One eye was hit with an iron ball (30 g) which fell to the eye from at the hight of 1 m. After the procedure the animals were killed at 15 and 30 min, or 1, 2, and 5 hrs post–treatment. In situ hybridization was employed to detect mRNA of c–fos and c–jun in tissue by using radio–labeled cDNA probes. Results: No signals for c–fos and c–jun mRNAs were detected in epithelium of an uninjured, intact lens. mRNAs for c–fos and c–jun were then detected in whole epithelium of the lens at 15 and 30 min. The signals for their mRNAs were no longer observed at 1 hr or later. Conclusion: Ocular blunt trauma potentially activates lens epithelial cells without any direct effect on the lens. Transient deformation of the ocular structure or activation of the cytokine system in the eye might be involved in the activation of the lens cells. The mechanism might underlie the pathogenesis of cataractogenesis following blunt ocular trauma.

Keywords: trauma • gene/expression • in situ hybridization