Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: It has been shown that AQP1 is expressed in TM, and may be involved in intraocular pressure (IOP) regulation. In this study, we investigated the effects of dexmethasone (DEX) and epinephrine (EPI) on the expression of aquaporine 1 (AQP 1) in the cultured bovine trabecular meshwork (TM) cells. Methods: TM explants were dissected from fresh bovine eyes and cultured in DMEM (10 mM Hepes) medium supplementary with 10% bovine serum and antibiotics. Only the first 3 passages were used for the experiments. Subcultured TM cells were grown on the coverslips and randomly divided into three groups and treated for 14 days: a). control group: treated with vehicle; b). DEX groups: 10–5 M, 10–6 M, 10–7 M; c). EPI groups: 10–4 M , 10–5 M , 10–6 M. The AQP1 was assessed by immunohistochemstry, and the level of AQP1 expression and statistics were analyzed by using computerized image program. Results: TM cells were identified by morphology, growth pattern and extracellular matrix (ECM), fibrionectine (FN), laminine (LN) with Supervision (S–P) staining. In comparison to vehicle treated group, the A value for expression of AQP1 was as follows: control > DEX 10–7 M>10–6 M>10–5 M; control > EPI 10–6 M>10–5 M>10–4 M. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that DEX inhibited the expression of AQP1 in the TM cells suggesting that AQP1 may play an important role in the involvement of DEX–induced glaucoma. On the other hand, the inhibition of AQP1 expression in bovine TM cells treated with EPI implies that the reduction of IOP by topical application of EPI may relate to the decrease the expression of AQP1 in TM cells. The method of TM explants culture is useful in pharmacological studies of TM cells and serves to explore the mechanism of glaucoma.
Keywords: immunohistochemistry • gene/expression • trabecular meshwork