Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: This study has been investigated the cellular localization and expression patterns of parvalbumin in the rat retina with diabetic retinopathy, which was induced by streptozotocin injection. Methods: Sprague–Dawley rats were injected with streptozotocin in dose of 60 mg/kg body weight resolved in 0.05M sodium citrate–HCl buffer (pH 5.5) via femoral vein. The animals showing high blood glucose level (over 300mg/dl) were cared for 1, 4, 12, and 24 weeks, respectively. At each time point, the retinas were dissected out and then processed for immunocytochemistry by using mouse anti–parvalbumin (Parv) antibody. Results: Parv immunoreactivity was displayed in two different amacrine cell types and displaced amacrince cells in the retina of normal. The one Parv–immunoreactive amacrine cell type was AII amacrine cells with less intense labeling and lobular appendages, and the other was amacrine cells with sparsely distributed and intense labeling. Throughout the diabetic retinas, the cellular proportion of Parv–immunoreactive AII amacrine cells was gradually reduced. In addition to these Parv–immunoreactive amacrine cells, presumptive Parv–immunoreactive bipolar cells in the inner nuclear layer appeared by 4 week diabetic retinas and were increased in cell number along the duration of diabetes. Conclusions: These results suggest that Parv immunoreactive AII amacrine cells are more susceptible to diabetic condition. The appearance of Parv immunoreactivity in the bipolar cells of the diabetic retina may be due to synaptic connectivity with these AII amacrine cells.
Keywords: retina: neurochemistry • immunohistochemistry • diabetes