Expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in rabbit Müller cells after lensectomy-vitrectomy.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To assess retinal response after lensectomy-vitrectomy, the authors analyzed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), which retinal glial cells express in several pathologic conditions. METHODS: GFAP expression was examined by means of immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in rabbit retina after lensectomy-vitrectomy. RESULTS: Müller cells had detectable GFAP immunoreactivity in peripheral retina 3 days after surgery. GFAP immunoreactivity was present in both peripheral and posterior regions 7 days, 14 days, and 6 months after surgery. The authors confirmed that anti-GFAP antibody recognized the 51 kDa protein specifically by Western blot analysis. Time-dependent increase of GFAP in peripheral retina was also obtained by ELISA: CONCLUSIONS: Such progressive GFAP accumulation in Müller cells, which are sensitive to microenvironmental changes, may reflect some underlying retinal response after lensectomy-vitrectomy.