FOS EXPRESSION IN THE RETINA OF RD RD MICE DURING THE LIGHT/DARK CYCLE/

An anti-Fos protein antiserum was used to elucidate the diurnal expres sion of Fos protein in the normal and degenerate rd/rd mice retina. We have found that Fos expression is stimulated in cells of both inner n uclear layer (INL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) at the onset of Light period and reaches its maximum after 2 h. After which, the number of stained nuclei decreases along the light/dark cycle until almost no re action is observed at the end of dark period. This expression pattern was similar in both normal and rd/rd mice although degenerate retinas showed a much lower number of stained nuclei. Aged rd animals also sho w Fos expression in GCL and INL in response to light stimuli suggestin g that severely degenerate retinas are still able to transduce light s timulus. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.