Characterisation of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase expression during retinal development: differences between variants and isoforms.

In mammals there are two ubiquitous, catalytically indistinguishable isoforms of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase and mutations in the type I isoform, but not type II, cause retina-specific disorders. We have characterised the spatio-temporal expression of these proteins during development of the rat retina and performed functional investigations of the recently described retinal type I variants. Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase was present in all immature cells throughout the retina during embryonic and neonatal development.

The effects of acute intraocular pressure elevation on rat retinal glutamate transport.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP), retinal glutamate transport and retinal hypoxia during acute IOP elevations of varying magnitude.

Methods: Female Dark Agouti rats were anaesthetized by ketamine/xylazine/acepromazine (10/5/0.5 mg/kg i.