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N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit mRNA expression in human retinal ganglion cells
W A Lagrèze1, M Darstein, T J Feuerstein
1Department of Ophthalmology, Albert-Ludwigs Universität Freiburg, Germany. lagreze@ukl.uni-freiburg.de
Purpose:
To determine the expression of mRNA coding for different N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NR) subunits in the human retina.
Methods:
In five human eyes the distribution of NR subunit mRNA was determined by in situ hybridization using 35S-labeled cRNA probes. In 100 consecutive retinal ganglion cells of each eye the level of mRNA expression of the different NR subunits was qualitatively graded.
Results:
Ninety-three percent of retinal ganglion cells expressed mRNA coding for NR1, 9% for NR2A, 28% for NR2B, 86% for NR2C, and 84% for NR2D. The pattern of expression did not vary among the five eyes.
Conclusion:
These data establish distinct expression profiles of NR subunits in human retinal ganglion cells and suggest the development of specific NR ligands to reduce excitotoxic retinal ganglion cell loss.