Axonal injury alters alternative splicing of the retinal NR1 receptor: the preferential expression of the NR1b isoforms is crucial for retinal ganglion cell survival.
J Neurosci
; 18(20): 8278-91, 1998 Oct 15.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9763472
ABSTRACT
Cellular-specific splicing of the retinal NMDAR1 receptor (NR1) and expression of NMDAR2 receptor (NR2) subunits in response to optic nerve injury was investigated by in situ hybridization in adult rats. A controlled optic nerve crush led to a clear alteration in the expression of alternatively spliced NR1 variants in the retinal ganglion cell layer (GCL). The NR1-2b and NR1-4b isoforms were preferentially expressed between 2 d and 1 week after injury, whereas expression for all other isoforms remained either unchanged or decreased to barely detectable levels within 4 weeks. Cellular silver grain density for NR2 subunits also declined in the GCL after trauma. To directly test the hypothesis that NR1b expression is crucial for cell survival after axonal trauma, we administered intraocularly an antisense oligonucleotide against the NR1b isoform 2 and 3 d after injury. This led to a drastic loss of retrogradely labeled retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Antisense targeting clearly reduced retinal NR1 protein levels, as judged by Western blot analysis, but had no effect on the cell number in control retinas. These findings point toward injury-specific changes in alternative splicing of the NR1 receptor, which are crucial for the survival of RGCs after partial axonal trauma. We therefore propose that this reflects an adaptive, rather than a pathogenic, cellular response to neurotrauma.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Células Ganglionares de la Retina
/
Axones
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Empalme Alternativo
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Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato
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Traumatismos del Nervio Óptico
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Neurosci
Año:
1998
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Alemania