LOCALIZATION OF THE PROSTAGLANDIN-F2-ALPHA RECEPTOR MESSENGER-RNA ANDPROTEIN IN THE CYNOMOLGUS MONKEY EYE

Purpose. To determine the distribution of the prostaglandin F-2 alpha (FP) receptor within the monkey eye. Methods. The expression and local ization of the FP receptor was studied by in situ hybridization and im munohistochemistry. Cryosections of the eye were hybridized with a (35 )labeled FP receptor riboprobe, and paraffin sections were immunostain ed with polyclonal antibodies against an FP receptor peptide. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed on cult ured cell populations from the eye. Results. Results of the three meth ods largely correlated with each other. The highest expression of FP r eceptor mRNA and protein was found in the corneal, conjunctival, and i ridial epithelium, the ciliary muscle, and ciliary processes. Iridial and choroidal melanocytes, the retina, and the optic nerve expressed l ower levels of both FP receptor message and protein. Using immunohisto chemistry, the FP receptor protein was found in connective tissue fibr oblasts, the corneal endothelium, and the vasculature; however, FP rec eptor expression was not detected using in situ hybridization. With RT -PCR, cultured retinal pigment epithelial and ciliary muscle cells fro m the cynomolgus monkey eye were found to express the FP receptor. Con clusions. The FP receptor was found to be distributed widely in the oc ular tissues, suggesting an array of autocrine and paracrine functions of PGF(2 alpha) in the eye.