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Benzodiazepine and kainate receptor binding sites in the RCS rat retina

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Abstract

Background

The effect of age and photoreceptor degeneration on the kainate subtype of glutamate receptors and on the benzodiazepine-sensitive γ-aminobutyric acid-A receptors (GABAA) in normal and RCS (Royal College of Surgeons) rats were investigated.

Methods

[3H]Kainate and [3H]flunitrazepam were used as radioligands for kainate and GABAA/benzodiazepine receptors, respectively, using the quantitative receptor autoradiography technique.

Results

In both normal and RCS rat retina we observed that [3Η]flunitrazepam and [3Η]kainate binding levels were several times higher in inner plexiform layer (IPL) than in outer plexiform layer (OPL) at all four ages studied (P17, P35, P60 and P180). Age-related changes in receptor binding were observed in normal rat retina: [3Η]flunitrazepam binding showed a significant decrease of 25% between P17 and P60 in IPL ,and [3Η]kainate binding showed significant decreases between P17 and P35 in both synaptic layers (71% in IPL and 63% in OPL). Degeneration-related changes in benzodiazepine and kainate receptor binding were observed in RCS rat retina. In IPL, [3Η]flunitrazepam and [3Η]kainate binding levels were higher than in normal retina at P35 (by 24% and 86%, respectively). In OPL, [3Η]flunitrazepam binding was higher in RCS than in normal retina on P35 (74%) and also on P60 (62%).

Conclusions

The results indicate that postnatal changes occur in kainate and benzodiazepine receptor binding sites in OPL and IPL of the rat retina up to 6 months of age. The data also suggest that the receptor binding changes observed in the RCS retina could be a consequence of the primary photoreceptor degeneration.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by a grant to A.M. from the K. Karatheodori Programme (Research Committee, University of Patras).

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Author notes

  1. Kalliopi Stasi

    Present address: Department of Opthalmology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1183, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Patras, 26500 , Patras, Greece

    Kalliopi Stasi, Elias D. Kouvelas & Ada Mitsacos

  2. Department of Experimental Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital, Münster, Germany

    Rita Naskar & Solon Thanos

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  1. Kalliopi Stasi
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Stasi, K., Naskar, R., Thanos, S. et al. Benzodiazepine and kainate receptor binding sites in the RCS rat retina. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 241, 154–160 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-002-0611-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-002-0611-7

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