Age-dependent decrease of retinal kynurenate and kynurenine aminotransferases in DBA/2J mice, a model of ocular hypertension

Vision Res. 2004 Mar;44(7):655-60. doi: 10.1016/j.visres.2003.11.003.

Abstract

The study examines age-dependent changes of kynurenic acid (KYNA) content and kynurenine aminotransferases (KAT I and KAT II) celluar expression in the retinas of DBA/2J mice. Retinas were obtained from DBA/2J mice of different ages (3, 6 and 11 months). C57BL6 mice were used as controls. As measured with HPLC, KYNA content decreased (p < 0.01) in the retinas of 6-month-old DBA/2J mice and continued to decrease (p < 0.0074) in the retinas of 11-month-old animals compared to the controls. Immunohistochemistry showed that expression of both KAT I and KAT II decreased markedly in the retinas of 11-month-old DBA/2J mice compared to controls. The impairment in KYNA biosynthesis in the retinas of DBA/2J mice may be one of the mechanisms of retinal neurodegeneration related to ocular hypertension.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Female
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods
  • Kynurenic Acid / analysis
  • Kynurenic Acid / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred DBA
  • Models, Animal
  • Ocular Hypertension / metabolism*
  • Ocular Hypertension / pathology
  • Retina / metabolism*
  • Retina / pathology
  • Transaminases / analysis
  • Transaminases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Transaminases
  • kynurenine-oxoglutarate transaminase
  • Kynurenic Acid