Characterization of Fatty Acid Binding Protein 7 (FABP7) in the Murine Retina.
PURPOSE: To characterize the mouse retina lacking fatty acid binding protein (FABP7-/-). METHODS: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed in 8-week-old mice to localize FABP7 in the retina. Retinal thickness was measured using image-guided spectral-domain optical coherence topography images. Electroretinography was carried out to assess retinal function. Fundus photography and fundus fluorescein angiography were performed on FABP7-/- and littermate wild-type (WT) mice, and retinal vascular changes were calculated using Singapore I Vessel Assessment (SIVA) analysis. Blood glucose levels were measured in the 8-week-old WT and FABP7-/- mice. In addition, retina was processed for trypsin digestion and retinal flat mounts for isolectin staining. Transcript levels of FABP7, VEGF, GFAP, and Na+K+ATPase were quantified using real-time PCR, and protein expression was analyzed by IHC and Western blot. RESULTS: Fatty acid binding protein 7 is expressed in the inner nuclear layer, outer plexiform layer, and photoreceptor inner segments. No significant difference in retinal thickness and ERG responses was observed between FABP7-deficient and WT retinas. FABP7-/- mice have significantly decreased retinal venular caliber retinal arteriolar fractal dimension compared with WT littermates. FABP7-/- mice showed significant increased areas of fluorescein leakage in the retina. FABP7-/- mice exhibited elevated high blood glucose levels compared with WT mice. Trypsin digested FABP7-/- mice retina showed increased acellular strands and endothelial cell drop outs, and reduced microvasculature branching compared with WT retina. FABP7-/- mice retina also have increased GFAP and VEGF expression. CONCLUSIONS: Fatty acid binding protein 7 is expressed in the retina and might play an important role in maintaining retinal vasculature.
Duke Scholars
Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Tomography, Optical Coherence
- Retinal Vessels
- Retinal Degeneration
- Retina
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Ophthalmology & Optometry
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice
- Immunohistochemistry
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Tomography, Optical Coherence
- Retinal Vessels
- Retinal Degeneration
- Retina
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Ophthalmology & Optometry
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice
- Immunohistochemistry