Figure 1 of Dibas, Mol Vis 2010; 16:330-340.


Figure 1. Optic nerve crush decreased number of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), thy-1 protein, and mRNA levels. The mean number of RGCs labeled retrogradely from superior colliculus was 2090±85/mm2 in sham rats without any treatment (A), which decreased to 1091±78 (47% loss, B) and 497±87/mm2 (76% loss, C) on day 7 and 14, respectively. Thy-1 expressed by retinal ganglion cells is widely used as marker for RGC stress and was shown to be reduced following optic nerve crush. Following retinal injuries with optic nerve crush, retinas were dissected and plasma membrane proteins were isolated or total RNA was isolated and transcribed into cDNA. Thirty microgram protein was loaded into each lane. D: Immunoreactive bands for thy-1 and β-tubulin at 2, 7, and 14 days following crush showing a significant reduction in thy-1 protein levels at 7 and 14 day but not at 2 days (94±18%, 33±6%, 24±7% at 2, 7, and 14 day, respectively, n=7). Densitometric quantification is shown in E. Data are expressed as a ratio of the control value and each measurement represents mean±SEM *Denotes statistical significance of thy-1 protein levels in optic nerve crushed retinas versus sham (p<0.005) as determined by one-way ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison test. Optic nerve crush also decreased thy-1 transcripts significantly (58±7%, 6±2%, at 2 and 7 day, respectively, % p<0.001 versus sham, n=8), as determined by quantitative real-time PCR (E). Thy1- mRNA at 2-weeks was below detection levels and considered zero. Gene expression data of thy-1 is calculated after normalizing with β-actin. **Denote significant differences compared with sham-retinas at p<0.05. Abbreviations: sham eye (C), and crushed (R).