Calpain, not caspase, is the causative protease for hypoxic damage in cultured monkey retinal cells.

Purpose: Cell death occurring in human retina during AMD, high IOP, and diabetic retinopathy could be caused by activation of calpain or caspase proteolytic enzymes. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether calpains and/or caspase-3 were involved in cell death during retinal hypoxia in a monkey model.

Methods: Dissociated monkey retinal cells were cultured for two weeks and subjected to 24-hour hypoxia/24-hour reoxygenation.