CARBONIC-ANHYDRASE TYPE-II IN REGENERATING RETINAL-PIGMENT EPITHELIUM- A HISTOCHEMICAL-STUDY IN THE RABBIT

Type II carbonic anhydrase (CAII) in the cytoplasm of the retinal pigm ent epithelium (RPE) may contribute to the transport of water and solu tes across the RPE. The activity of this enzyme in RPE during its resp onse to damage, e.g., during regeneration, is therefore of interest in understanding retinal disease. Immunohistochemistry was used to compa re CAII activity of normal RPE and RPE experimentally induced to regen erate. In normal rabbits, the RPE stained intensely with a peroxidase- linked antibody specific for human CAII. Regenerating RPE stained less intensely. Within the regenerating epithelium, staining appeared more intense in mature cells than in immature ones, suggesting that CAII a ctivity gradually returns during RPE regeneration.