ONTOGENY OF COPPER-ZINC AND MANGANESE SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE IN THE DEVELOPING RAT RETINA - IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL AND IMMUNOCHEMICAL STUDY

The localization of copper-zinc and manganese superoxide dismutase (SO D) in the developing rat retina was studied immunohistochemically and immunochemically. Immunore-activity to Cu/Zn SOD was observed in the i nner limiting membrane, nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer (GCL) a nd pigment epithelium on postnatal day (P) 7. From P7 to at least 10 w eeks, the distribution of Cu/Zn SOD remained unchanged in rats. From P 15 to P30, the immunoreactivity to Mn SOD appeared in the GCL and inne r plexiform layer. The distribution of Mn SOD remained unchanged betwe en P30 and 10 weeks. Our immunochemical study revealed that the concen tration of Cu/Zn SOD was higher than that of Mn SOD throughout the pos tnatal period. The differential distributions of Cu/Zn SOD in the deve loping rat retina support the hypothesis that Cu/Zn and Mn SOD play an important role in the protection against oxygen free radicals in the different layers of the retina throughout development.