Assessment of Thy-1 mRNA levels as an index of retinal ganglion cell damage.

Abstract

Ischemia and NMDA-induced excitotoxicity caused retinal ganglion cell destruction, but the photoreceptors were unaffected. Measurement of total retinal Thy-1 mRNA levels provides a useful way of following ganglion cell death especially when combined with immunohistochemical localization of Thy-1. Additionally, the effect on other retinal cell types such as the photoreceptors can be followed in concert using this technique.