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Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Quantification of Immunostained Caspase-9 in Retinal Tissue
Published on: July 25, 2022
[The treatment of retinal apoptosis by Caspase 3 inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO in experimental myopia]
Shuang-zhen Liu1, Jun-feng Mao, Dan Wen
1Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China. liushzhxy@163.com
Objective:
To investigate the mechanism of retinal apoptosis in chick experimental myopia and the therapy of Caspase 3 inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO.
Methods:
Chick myopia was induced by lid-suture. After Ac-DEVD-CHO had been injected into vitreous, myopia was confirmed by optometry. Subsequently, chick eyeballs removed were measured its extro-dimensions, and the change of fundus were observed. Retinal apoptotic cells were determined by electron microscopy, TUNEL technique and flow cytometry. Retinal Caspase 3 proteins and its activities were measured by immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and a colorimetric method using Ac-DEVD-pNA as a substrate.
Results:
Ocular diopters and extro-diameters in all sutured eyes remarkly increased in comparison with its control eyes at 12 weeks after lid-suture. Lacquer crack lesions were found in 41 of 90 sutured eyes (45.56%). Apoptotic cells were observed in retinal outer and inner nuclear layer of the sutured eyes, and its apoptotic rate was significantly more than in control eyes (P < 0.05). Moreover, the expression of retinal Caspase 3 proteins and its activities were increased. After Ac-DEVD-CHO was injected into vitreous, the decrease of retinal apoptotic rate, Caspase 3 proteins and its activities was found. The treated effect of Ac-DEVD-CHO was in a dose dependent manner.
Conclusions:
Caspase 3 plays an important role in retinal apoptosis of chick myopia. Ac-DEVD-CHO can effectively ameliorate retinal apoptosis by blocked the effect of Caspase 3.
