Analysis of the retinal gene expression profile after hypoxic preconditioning identifies candidate genes for neuroprotection-0

Sed to 5'000 lux of white light for 1 h. Control animals were not preconditioned and were (normoxic) or were not (dark control) exposed to light. Retinal morphology was analyzed 36 h after light exposure. Normoxic animals exposed to light showed a severe disruption of ROS and RIS with the appearance of many pycnotic photoreceptor nuclei. Mice exposed to light 4 hours after hypoxic preconditioning were almost completely protected and only some ROS vesiculation was observed. The protective effect of hypoxia was progressively weakened with increasing reoxygenation time before illumination as indicated by an increased disruption of ROS and RIS and the increased appearance of pycnotic photoreceptor nuclei. 16 h after preconditioning the protection was completely lost. Hypoxic preconditioning per se did not affect retinal morphology or function even after prolonged survival (data not shown, [9]). Arrowheads: examples of pycnotic nuclei; ROS: rod outer segments; RIS: rod inner segments; ONL: outer nuclear layer, scale bar: 25 μm. Expression of transcription factors HIF-1α and phospho-STAT3 in the retina was analyzed in normoxic mice or immediately after hypoxic preconditioning by Western blotting. β-actin and STAT3 levels verified equal sample loading. Both transcription factors were induced immediately after hypoxia with some variability between individuals. Shown are results from two normoxic controls and from two mice preconditioned with hypoxia.<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Analysis of the retinal gene expression profile after hypoxic preconditioning identifies candidate genes for neuroprotection"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/9/73</p><p>BMC Genomics 2008;9():73-73.</p><p>Published online 8 Feb 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2270833.</p><p>