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The expression spectrum of gene after partial injury of optic nerves

ObjectiveTo investigate the gene expression spectrum of retina and optic nerve after partial injury of optic nerve.MethodsSixty SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. The optic nerves of the right eyes were clipped for 6 seconds with a pair of crossaction forceps. The retinae and optic nerves in the operation eye and contralateral sham operation eye were removed 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after the injury to detect gene expression patterns with high-density DNA microarrays.ResultsChanges of a mass of gene expressions were found after the optic nerve injury, and the positive rate of gene expression was 2.35%, 6.48%, 3.82% and 4.09% after 3, 7, 14, 21 days, respectively, and the total positive rate was 11.77%. The functions of positive expression of the gene involved cell survival, cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix and cell adhesion, free radicals and oxidative damage, energy and metabolism, inflammation, neurotransmission and ion transport, signal transduction, structural protein, transcription and translation. Up-or down-regulation of repaired genes was the main part of the changes of gene expression, while the alteredexpression destroy genes was the minor part in the whole gene expression spectrum, in which the up- and down-regulation of expression of repaired genes accounted for 13.98% and 24.73% respectively 7 days after the injury, and the downregulation of expression of repaired genes accounted for 17.20% 14 days after the injury.ConclusionsA mass of gene expression changes occurs after the optic nerve injury, and the comprehensive view on the gene expression pattern following the optic nerve injury is crucial to discover the mechanism of post-injury reaction and regeneration.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:163-166)