To examine the pathology of normal-tension glaucoma and develop the neuroprotective drog

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26462689
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ophthalmology
• Research Institution: Kagawa University
• Principal Investigator: Hirooka Kazuyuki 香川大学, 医学部, 准教授 (10325350)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 緑内障 / アルドステロン / 網膜神経節細胞 / マイクロアレイ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Since it is important to determine the mechanism of cell death independent of the intraocular pressure (IOP), we examined gene expression changes in the retina after the systemic administration of aldosterone. After the subcutaneous implantation of an osmotic minipump into the mid-scapular region of rats, we administered an 80 μg/kg/day dose of aldosterone.Analysis of the microarray data sets revealed the upregulation of 24 genes and the downregulation of 24 genes of key apoptosis-specific genes. Real-time PCR revealed 5 genes (Bcl3, Cdkn1a, Tbox5, Pf4, and Vdr) were upregulated while 10 genes (Asns, Bard1, Card9, Fcgr1a, Inhba, Kcnh8, Lck, Phlda1, Ptprc, and Sh3rf1) were downregulated. Significant increases or decreases were noted in several genes after the systemic administration of aldosterone. Further studies will need to be undertaken in order to definitively clarify the role of these genes in the eyes of animals with normal-tension glaucoma.

Free Research Field

緑内障の病態解明と神経保護治療