Activation of caspase‐3 in axotomized rat retinal ganglion cells in vivo

Abstract

Recently, we have shown that inhibition of caspase‐3‐like caspases is the most effective treatment strategy to protect adult rat retinal ganglion cells from secondary death following optic nerve transection. In the present study, we localized active caspase‐3 in axotomized retinal ganglion cells in vivo and demonstrated a co‐localization of the active p20 fragment and TUNEL‐staining in some of these cells. In line with this, we detected an enhanced cleavage and activity of caspase‐3 protein in retinal tissue after lesion, while caspase‐3 mRNA expression remained unchanged. These data suggest caspase‐3 as an important mediator of secondary retinal ganglion cell death following axotomy in vivo.