Expression of brain/kidney protein in Muller cells of rat retina followingtransient ischemia

We have investigated the expression and cellular localization of brain/kidn ey (B/K) protein in the rat retina following transient ischemia. In the nor mal retina, strong B/K immunoreactivity was localized to some ganglion cell s. In addition, a few radial Muller cell processes showed B/K immunoreactiv ity. Following ischemia and reperfusion, most B/K-labeled ganglion cells we re lost, whereas between 1 day and 2 weeks post-lesion B/K immunoreactivity appeared in many more Muller cell processes with increasing intensity. Qua ntitative evaluation by immunoblotting confirmed that B/K expression then d ecreased progressively, to 35% of control values at four weeks post-lesion. Our findings suggest that Muller cells are involved in the pathophysiology of retinal ischemia through the expression of B/K following transient isch emia. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.