Evaluation of early abnormalities of the sensory retina in a hypercholesterolemia experimental model: an immunohistochemical study

• Autor(a) principal: Torres,Rogil José de Almeida
• Data de Publicação: 2009
• Outros Autores: Maia,Maurício, Précoma,Dalton Bertolin, Noronha,Lucia, Luchini,Andréa, Précoma,Leonardo Brandão, Souza,Greyce Kelly de, Muccioli,Cristina
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Arquivos brasileiros de oftalmologia (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-27492009000600010
• topic: Retina; Models, animal; Calcium-binding proteins; Cholesterol; Anoxia; Immunohistochemistry; Rabbits

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the early changes of the sensory retina induced by hypercholesterolemia in an experimental model. METHODS: New Zealand rabbits were divided into two groups: CG (Control Group) was fed a normal diet for 6 weeks. G1 was initially fed a 1% cholesterol diet for two weeks and from the 14th day on a 0.5% cholesterol diet until the 42nd day. The eyes underwent an immunohistochemical analysis with monoclonal antibodies anti-calretinin and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). RESULTS: G1 cells and cell elements presented significant immunoreactivity to anti-calretinin. No immunoreactivity to anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein was observed in both groups. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that a hypercholesterolemic diet may induce early changes in the sensory retina in rabbits. The anti-calretinin monoclonal antibody was able to reveal calcium accumulation inside the nerve cells.