Alteration of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha in retina during rat development

Xuxia MENG; Yingjun NIU; Ying YANG; Wenhua XU

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Hypoxia inducible factor-1 α(HIF-1 α) is not only related to physiological reaction of hypoxia,but also takes part in normal embryonic development.

OBJECTIVE:

To study the alteration of HIF- 1 α in retina during rat development.DESIGN,TIME AND

SETTING:

Randomized contrast animal study,which was performed in the Shandong Provincial Molecular Virus Key Laboratory,Medical College of Qingdao University between January and September 2007.MATERIALS Adult Wistar rats,nulliparity,clean grade,and weighing 200 250 g were used in this study.

METHODS:

Male and female rats were caged as the ratio of 1 1.Embryos were obtained at 12-day,16-day,and 20-day pregnancy.Eyeballs were obtained from newborn rats by anesthesia at 1-day,5-day,10-day,and 12-month birth.Retina was separated and made into paraffin section.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Expressions of HIF 1 α protein and HIF-1 α mRNA in retina were measured by immunohistochemistry and semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction at various dine points of embryonic development.

RESULTS:

HIF-1 α positively expressed at stratum neuroepitheliale retinae and purpurogenous membrane in the embryonic phase.Additionally,HIF-1 α still positively expressed at stratum neuroepitheliale retinae and purpurogenous membrane,especially in ganglionic cells and inner plexiform layer,in early development.With the gradual development,the positive expression was mainly located at stratum ganglionare retinae.HIF-1 α protein and mRNA expressions were the highest in the embryonic phase,lower in the development,and the lowest in the adult period.There were significantly differences among these three phases (P ＜ 0.01).

CONCLUSION:

HIF-1 α decreases gradually in retina and its expression is mainly located at stratum ganglionare retinae.