Reactive oxygen species generation and neuroinflammation induced by ocular enucleation in the rat visual system.

Author(s)

Marina Sorrentino Hernandes

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2011-04-29

Examining board members

Luiz Roberto Giorgetti de Britto; Graziela Scalianti Ceravolo; Tania Marcourakis; Cristoforo Scavone; Carolina Demarchi Munhoz de Souza

• Advisor: Luiz Roberto Giorgetti de Britto; Lucia Rossetti Lopes

Abstract

Unilateral ocular enucleation represents a useful model to study visual system plasticity. We evaluated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the main visual relays of the mammalian brain, namely the superior colliculus (SC) and the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (DLG), after ocular enucleation. Dihydroethidium oxidation revealed increased ROS generation in SC and DLG. ROS generation was decreased by the Nox inhibitors DPI and apocynin. Real-time PCR results revealed that Nox 2 was upregulated in both retinorecipient structures after deafferentation, whereas Nox 1 and Nox 4 were upregulated only in the SC. To evaluate the role of ROS in structural remodeling after the lesions, apocynin was given to enucleated rats and immunohistochemistry was conducted for markers of neuronal remodeling into SC and DLG. Immunohistochemical data showed that ocular enucleation produces an increase of neurofilament and microtubule-associated protein-2 immunostaining in both SC and DLG, which was markedly attenuated by apocynin treatment. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/60982-8 - Neurodegeneration and generation of reactive oxygen species in the visual system: a study in a model of ocular enucleation in rats
• Grantee: Marina Sorrentino Hernandes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate