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Altered expression of genes in experimentally induced myopic chick eyes
S Akamatsu1, S Fujii, M F Escaño
1Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Purpose:
To identify a casual pathway between the alteration in visual experience, due to form deprivation and hyperopic defocus, and the increase in eye growth, we searched for candidate genes having regulatory effects on eye growth under myopic conditions.
Methods:
The expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, sonic hedgehog, nerve growth factor, Six-3 and the Lh-2 group of genes in the transcriptional level after experimentally induced myopia (form-deprivation by goggles and by hyperopic defocus using negative spectacle lenses) were evaluated by semiquantitative reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot analysis.
Results:
Results showed that only the sonic hedgehog gene was differentially expressed in the experimentally induced myopic retinal samples compared with controls.
Conclusions:
The sonic hedgehog gene may have regulatory functions in the signaling of the cascade of events that leads to axial elongation and vitreous enlargement of the eye under myopic conditions.
Insights
The sonic hedgehog gene is differentially expressed in myopia, suggesting it regulates eye growth. This finding offers insights into the molecular mechanisms driving axial elongation in myopia.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Myopia, or nearsightedness, is characterized by excessive eye growth.
- Altered visual experiences, such as form deprivation and hyperopic defocus, are known to induce myopia.
- The molecular pathways regulating eye growth in response to visual stimuli are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify candidate genes involved in the pathway linking altered visual experience to increased eye growth in myopia.
- To investigate the regulatory effects of specific genes on eye growth under myopic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Experimentally induced myopia in animal models using form deprivation (goggles) and hyperopic defocus (negative lenses).
- Evaluated the transcriptional levels of candidate genes including brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, sonic hedgehog, nerve growth factor, Six-3, and Lh-2.
- Utilized semiquantitative reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot analysis to assess gene expression.
Main Results:
- Sonic hedgehog gene showed differential expression in experimentally induced myopic retinal samples compared to control samples.
- No significant differential expression was observed for other candidate genes tested (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, nerve growth factor, Six-3, Lh-2).
Conclusions:
- The sonic hedgehog gene plays a potential regulatory role in the signaling cascade leading to axial elongation and vitreous enlargement in the eye during myopia development.
- Sonic hedgehog may be a key molecular player in the eye's response to altered visual environments, contributing to myopia progression.