Figure 5. Glial fibrillary acidic protein
is upregulated following optic nerve crush, while B cell lymphoma-x
(bcl-xl) is downregulated. Following retinal injuries with optic nerve
crush, retinas were dissected and cytosolic proteins were isolated.
Fifty micrograms protein was loaded into each lane. Glial fibrillary
acidic protein (GFAP), a cellular marker for retinal injury, was
upregulated (A: 450 ±190%, 262±30%, and 300±34%, days 2, 7, and
14, respectively, p<0.001, n=7). Bcl-xl (anti-apoptotic factor)
downregulation is involved in initiating apoptosis and not surprisingly
was reduced following optic nerve crush (B: 67±9% and 56±10%, at
days 7 and 14, respectively, p<0.005, n=7). However, changes in
bcl-xl protein levels at day 2 were not statistically significant.