Expression And Significance Of GAP-43 In The Retina Of Rats During Development

Objective:To investigate the expression and distribution of GAP-43 in the retina of normal rats during the development of postnatal rats, to probe into the change and the significance of GAP-43 in the process of visual development.Methods: Real time RT-PCR method was used to detect the expression of mRNA in the retina of normal rats at the different age of postnatal;Immunohistochemical menthod was used to detect protein.Results : The rusult of Real time RT-PCR showed that GAP-43 was continual rise before 21th day of postnatal development and then reduced to a low level in the adulthood. GAP-43 was highly express in the early period of postnatal development.The result of spectrodensitometry was match to the result of Real time RT-PCR . In the first day(P0), the expression of GAP-43 was found in the ganglion cell layer and nerve fiber layer and inner plexiform layer.With the development, the expression of GAP-43 got to highest at the age of p21 and then reduced to a low level in the adulthood. GAP-43 in the inner plexiform layer kept on expressing during the adulthood and it cost a large part of total GAP-43 in the adulthood.Some cells in the inner nuclear layer could also expressed GAP-43.But GAP-43 wasn't find in the external plexiform layer.Conclution: There is a close correlation between Gap-43 mRNA and Gap-43 protein expression in the retina of normal rats and the time course of the critical period during development. The result of spectrodensitometry is match to the result of Real time RT-PCR .It is suggest that GAP-43 is an important factor in the development of rats'retina.