RAPID CHANGES IN THE EXPRESSION OF GLIAL-CELL PROTEINS CAUSED BY EXPERIMENTAL RETINAL-DETACHMENT

We examined the expression of several proteins normally present in Mul ler's glia after the production of experimental retinal detachment in adult cats. Retinas were detached for one-half to seven days, after wh ich the tissue was processed for correlative immunocytochemistry and b iochemistry. Previous studies demonstrated that the intermediate filam ent proteins glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin, increase af ter long-term retinal detachment (30 to 60 days), whereas glutamine sy nthetase, carbonic anhydrase C, and cellular retinaldehyde-binding pro tein all decrease to barely detectable levels. Alterations in Muller c ell protein expression are rapid and specific events that can be detec ted as early as two days after retinal detachment. By seven days, leve ls of protein expression are similar to those in the long-term retinal detachments. Within the first week after injury the Muller cell proce sses hypertrophy and begin forming glial scars, which indicates that e arly intervention may be required to halt or reverse the effects of de tachment.