Prosaposin gene expression in normal and dystrophic RCS rat retina.

Purpose: To identify proteins secreted by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and to analyze their cellular distribution in normal and pathologic rat retinas at various stages of eye development.

Methods: A cDNA library was constructed with RNA isolated from porcine RPE sheets and screened by using the yeast signal sequence trap system. In situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis were performed on rat retinas.

Expression of SR-BI receptor and StAR protein in rat ocular tissues.

The class-B type-I scavenger receptor (SR-BI) plays a key role in cholesterol homeostasis; it mediates the selective uptake of lipoprotein cholesterol to steroidogenic tissues. We show by RT-PCR, western blot, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry analysis that SR-BI is highly expressed in different neuro-retinal and non-neuronal cells types on rat eye. Immunohistochemistry of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) involved in neurosteroid production showed the same expression pattern than SR-BI in rat eye.

Major role of BAX in apoptosis during retinal development and in establishment of a functional postnatal retina.

Apoptosis plays a major role in the development of the central nervous system. Previous studies of apoptosis induction during retinal development are difficult to interpret, however, because they explored different mouse strains, different developmental periods, and used different assays. Here, we first established a comprehensive sequential pattern of cell death during the whole development of the C57BL/6J mouse retina, from E10.

Use of denaturing HPLC and automated sequencing to screen the VMD2 gene for mutations associated with Best's vitelliform macular dystrophy.

We identified three novel VMD2 mutations in patients with Best's macular dystrophy. DHPLC analysis of the 11 VMD2 exons revealed abnormal profiles in exon 8. Direct sequencing showed that these abnormal profiles were due to monoallelic transitions and transversions.

Axis I and II comorbidity and childhood trauma history in chemical dependency.

The authors replicated and extended two former studies on Axis I and II comorbidity and childhood trauma histories in 106 patients admitted to a chemical dependency treatment unit. Sixty-nine subjects reported a history of physical and/or sexual abuse during childhood and 26.4% met criteria for posttraumaic stress disorder.