【Animal Modeling】-Retinal Morphology and Expression of RhoA and ROCK-2 in Rats with Ocular Ischemia Syndrome

  Objective To establish a rat model of ocular ischemia syndrome (OIS) and observe the retinal morphology and the differences in the expressions of RhoA and ROCK-2 in rat retina after ischemia.

  Methods Twenty Brown Norway rats were randomly divided into OIS model group and sham operation group. The rats in the OIS model group were modeled by bilateral complete ligation of the common carotid arteries (BCCAO); the rats in the sham operation group were only freed but not ligated. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the number of retinal ganglion cells and the thickness of retinal layers in the two groups 3 months after modeling; immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to analyze RhoA and ROCK in the two groups -2 expression level in retina.

  Results Nine rats in the model group were successfully modeled. Compared with the sham operation group, the number of retinal ganglion cells in the model group was significantly decreased (P<0.01); the total retinal thickness and the thickness of the inner plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer were significantly decreased (all P<0.05). the="" thickness="" of="" outer="" nuclear="" layer="" was="" relatively="" but="" difference="" not="" statistically="" significant="" p="">0.05). Compared with the sham-operated group, the expression levels of RhoA protein and ROCK-2 protein in the retina of the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01 for the former, P<0.05 for the latter).

  Conclusion The expressions of RhoA and ROCK-2 in the OIS model group were significantly increased, which may provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of the disease.