1.The application of optogenetics in the treatment of retinal degeneration disease
Yumeng SHEN ; Yiqiao XING ; Yin SHEN
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2016;32(3):338-342
Optogenetics is a novel technique which combines optics with genetics.Using genetic means,a selected opsin protein is ectopically expressed in target neurons,which are then stimulated by light to moderate the neuronal circuit,as a consequence to regulate the animal's behaviors.Retinal degeneration like retinitis pigmentosa and aged macular degeneration causes visual impairment and eventual blindness.Optogenetics techniques have opened the door to creating artificial photoreceptors in the remaining retinal circuits of retinal degeneration retinas via gene therapy.However,there are still limitations in optogenetics technique,for example,potential risk in virus infection,the choice of target cells and the low visual resolution of the experiment animal.It has been reported that vision was successfully restored to a certain extent in animal model using optogenetics technique.With higher photosensitivity of opsin protein,longer activation kinetics and higher transfection efficiency of virus vector,optogenetics techniques' application in ophthalmology will be improved.
2.Protection of cannabinoid to retinal ganglion cells against oxygen-glucose deprivation damage
Yumeng, SHEN ; Zhongqiao, LIN ; Shiliang, LIU ; Kailin, TIAN ; Yuanyuan, CHEN ; Yin, SHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2017;35(1):10-16
Background Acute retinal ischemia anoxic injury is common in eye disorders,such as acute glaucoma,central retinal artery occlusion and ischemic optic neuropathy,etc.This will cause retinal ischemia anoxic injury and induce retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) death in addition.Endogenous cannabinoid (CB) and its receptors are involved in the central nervous system injury,ischemia,inflammation,and poisoning and other physiological and pathological process.Objective This study was to investigate the effect of CB on RGCs damage induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD).Methods The eyeballs were obtained from 6-week-old normal C57BL/6J mice to prepare retinal frozen sectionsand the expression and distribution of cannabinoid receptors (CB1R and CB2R) in RGCs was detected by immunofluorescence staining.The eyeballs of ten newborn C57BL/6J mice (postnatal 0-3 days) were obtained after immersed by 75% alcohol and the retinas were isolated in preeooling DMEM for the primary culture of RGCs.The cells were identified by detecting the expression of Brn3a,a marker of RGCs,with immunofluorescence staining.Then the cells cultured for 14 days were divided into normal control group (in complete culture medium+95% air+5% CO2) and OGD group (in glucose-free medium+95% N2 +4% CO2 + 1% O2) for 20 hours.The mitochondrial damage and RGCs morphology changed were evaluated by JC-1 staining to observe the mitochondrial membrane potential change.SR141716A (CB1R antagonist,1 μmol/L),SR144528 (CB2R antagonist,1 μmol/L) and 5 or 10 μmol/L WIN 55212-2 (CB1R and CB2R agonist) were added,and the survival rate of RGCs was assayed MTT.Results CBR was positively expressed in various layers of normal mouse retinas.The cells in the normal control group showed uniform size and polygon in shape with the long and thin axons,and the expression of Brn-3a was seen in the cells.However,in the OGD group,cell shrinkage and fragments were found and most of the axons disappeared.The expression of Brn-3a was evidently weakened.The fluorescence intensity of JC-1 was evidently weakened in the OGD group compared with the normal control group,showing the reduce of mitochondrial membrane potential.MTT assay showed that the survival rate of RGCs was (100.00± 13.87)%,which was significantly higher than (89.52-± 18.16)% in the normal control group (q =8.065,P =0.008).The mean survival rates of RGCs were (116.63±22.21)% and (112.61 ±19.02)% in the cells treated by SR141716A and SR144528,and that in the normal cells was (89.52 ± 18.16)% in the OGD group,with significant differences between SR141716A-or SR144528-treated cells and normal cells (q =29.780,17.391;both at P< 0.01).Conclusions Hypoxia and glucose-free up-regulate the expression of CB and activate CB pathway.Inhibition of activation CBR process has a neuroprotection effect under the Hypoxia and glucose-free condition.
3.Comparison of electronic lesion of pyramidal tract and internal capsule hemorrhage in establishing spastic rat models
Shen LI ; Xiaoyan LAN ; Yumeng BAI ; Huamin QIN ; Pin SONG ; Suping WANG
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2014;13(6):590-594
Objective To compare the differences between electronic lesion of pyramidal tract and internal capsule hemorrhage in establishing spastic rat models.Methods Experimental animals were randomly assigned into three groups:electronic lesion group (EL),internal capsule hemorrhage group (ICH) and control group (CON,n=28).Seven,14,21 and 28 d after each treatment,the general conditions of the rats and behavioral tests on them were recorded; and the gastrocnemius Hoffman reflex (H reflex) was detected; and the percentage of type Ⅰ muscle fiber in quadriceps femoris were examined by skeletal muscle myosin ATP staining.Results Rats in EL group and ICH group showed significant differences in behavioral tests as compared with CON group (P<0.05); the duration of symptoms of neurological deficit was significantly longer in EL group than the other two groups (P<0.05).In contrast to CON group,the amplitude of gastrocnemius H reflex in EL group and ICH group was increased and the latency of H reflex was decreased with significant difference (P<0.05),which could be observed till 28 d and 14 d,respectively,after each treatment.The percentage of type Ⅰ muscle fiber in quadriceps femoris EL and ICH groups was obviously increased as compared with that in CON group (P<0.05),which persisted to 21 and 14 d,respectively,after each treatment.Meanwhile,rats in EL group showed significant differences in behavioral test,gastrocnemius H reflex and percentage of type] muscle fiber in quadriceps femoris as compared with ICH rats (P<0.05).Conclusion The muscle tone of EL rats is higher,and lasts longer than that ofICH rats.