ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of paired immunoglobulin-like receptor B (PirB) in optic nerve, visual cortex, cerebella, spinal cord and sciatic nerve of normal adult mice.MethodsTwelve healthy adult BALB/c mice were randomly and equally divided into two groups.The immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expression of PirB in the tissues described above respectively.ResultsBoth the immunohistochemistry and Western blot test revealed that the expression of PirB was positive in the optic nerve, visual cortex, cerebella and spinal cord, but negative in the sciatic nerve.The positive signals in the sections were located in the cell bodies and the neurites were observed in some of them.Western blot showed the apparent positive band of PirB in the optic nerve, visual cortex, cerebella and spinal cord rather than in the sciatic nerve.The protein expression level of PirB was relatively high in the visual cortex (P ＜0.05) but relatively low in the optic nerves (P ＜0.01).ConclusionThe PirB expresses positively in the optic nerve, indicating that PirB protein may closely correlate with the poor regeneration of the optic nerve.