Light Independent Degeneration of the 5A11/Basigin Null Mouse Retina

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: The 5A11/Basigin null mouse retina is characterized as electrophysiologically deficient from eye opening with structural degeneration of the retina starting at about eight weeks of age. In this study, the effect of light on the observed retinal degeneration of the 5A11/Basigin null mouse retina was assessed. Methods: 5A11/Basigin null mice and control littermates were reared in constant darkness or in a 12 hour light/dark cycle until eight months of age. Eye cups were isolated, enucleated, and embedded in paraffin. The cytoarchitecture of the retinas from each group was then assessed by fluorescence immunohistochemistry using antibodies specific for 5A11/Basigin, MCT-1, opsin, arrestin, SV-2, GFAP, glutamine synthetase, and peanut agglutinin. Results: Retinal degeneration was observed in 5A11/Basigin null mice at eight months of age when reared under both lighting conditions. Also, the retinas of control littermates reared in constant darkness appeared to be similar to those reared in the 12 hour light/dark cycle in terms of antigen distribution and fluorescence intensity. Conclusions: The results obtained from this study support our hypothesis that 5A11/Basigin gene inactivation results in a developmental deficiency, with the retinal degeneration as a secondary effect. Light does not influence the onset of retinal degeneration in the 5A11/Basigin null mouse retina.

Keywords: retinal degenerations: cell biology • microscopy: light/fluorescence/immunohistochem