RCS大鼠视网膜中的神经递质含量

Neurotransmitter contents in the retina of RCS rat.

作者信息

Okada M, Okuma Y, Osumi Y, Nishihara M, Yokotani K, Ueno H

机构信息

Department of Ophthalmology, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan.

出版信息

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2000 Dec;238(12):998-1001. doi: 10.1007/s004170000215.

DOI:10.1007/s004170000215

PMID:11196364

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Retinitis pigmentosa is a hereditary disease characterized by gradually developing degeneration of photoreceptors. The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat is an experimental model of retinitis pigmentosa. However, there is a paucity of information concerning neurotransmitter contents in the retina of RCS rats. Thus, we determined the retinal contents of neurotransmitters in RCS rats at 4 and 23 weeks postnatally and in age-matched congenic control rats.

METHODS

Dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (ACh) were electrochemically measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Neuroactive amino acids, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and taurine, were determined by means of an HPLC-precolumn derivatization method.

RESULTS

Contents of DA, ACh, glutamate, aspartate and GABA in the retina of RCS rats 4 weeks postnatally were within normal ranges. At 23 weeks, the retinal contents of DA, glutamate and aspartate in the RCS rats were significantly lower than in the age-matched control rats, while the contents of ACh and GABA were unaffected even at this later stage. On the other hand, the retinal content of glycine in the RCS rats at 23 weeks was significantly higher than that in the age-matched control rats. It is interesting to note that the content of taurine in the RCS rats had already decreased at 4 weeks postnatally and the decrease was more marked at 23 weeks.

CONCLUSION

The decrease in taurine content is probably the first sign of degeneration revealed by the retinal neurotransmitters of RCS rats.

摘要

背景

视网膜色素变性是一种以光感受器逐渐发生变性为特征的遗传性疾病。皇家外科学院（RCS）大鼠是视网膜色素变性的实验模型。然而，关于RCS大鼠视网膜中神经递质含量的信息却很少。因此，我们测定了出生后4周和23周的RCS大鼠以及年龄匹配的同基因对照大鼠视网膜中的神经递质含量。

方法

通过高效液相色谱法（HPLC）电化学测定多巴胺（DA）和乙酰胆碱（ACh）。包括γ-氨基丁酸（GABA）和牛磺酸在内的神经活性氨基酸通过HPLC柱前衍生化法测定。

结果

出生后4周的RCS大鼠视网膜中DA、ACh、谷氨酸、天冬氨酸和GABA的含量在正常范围内。在23周时，RCS大鼠视网膜中DA、谷氨酸和天冬氨酸的含量显著低于年龄匹配的对照大鼠，而即使在这个后期阶段，ACh和GABA的含量也未受影响。另一方面，23周时RCS大鼠视网膜中甘氨酸的含量显著高于年龄匹配的对照大鼠。有趣的是，RCS大鼠中牛磺酸的含量在出生后4周就已经下降，在23周时下降更为明显。