Increased expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor alpha mRNA in the ischemic rat retina

Using in situ hybridization, we investigated the expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor ((CNTFRalpha) mRNA in the rat retina rendered ischemic by elevation of the intraocular pressure (IOP). The IOP was increased to 120 mmHg and maintained for 60 min. The rats were sacrificed on the day of reperfusion (DRP) 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28. In the normal retina, the signal for CNTFRalpha mRNA was present in retinal cells in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and in the ganglion cell layer (GCL). On DRP 1, numerous cells in the INL and GCL showed a CNTFRalpha mRNA signal. From DRP 3 onwards, CNTFRalpha mRNA appeared in photoreceptor cells located in the outer part of the outer nuclear layer. The signal in these cells increased up to DRP 14 and then decreased at DRP 28. Our findings suggest that cells expressing CNTFRalpha mRNA may resist the degenerative processes induced by ischemic insult in the rat retina.