We examined the presence of Zn-transporters (ZnT1, ZnT3, ZnT4, and ZnT6) proteins and zinc ions in rat choroid epithelium with immunohistochemistry and zinc selenide autometallography (ZnSe(AMG)). The four ZnT proteins were all expressed in the choroid epithelial cells. ZnT3 immunostaining was found in vesicle membranes in the apical part of the cells, associated to the microvillus membrane. Correspondingly, the ZnSe(AMG) technique revealed zinc ions in small vesicles, in microvilli, and multivesicular bodies in the epithelial cells. Traceable zinc ions were also found in lysosome-like organelles of fenestrated endothelial cells, but here no corresponding ZnT3 immunostaining was seen. The observations suggests that the choroid plexus is instrumental to regulation of the level of zinc ions in the cerebrospinal fluid.
We investigated the patterns of degenerative changes of indoleamine-accumulating cells (IACs) induced by 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT, 100 microg), and the glial reaction to the neurodegenerative changes of IACs in the cat retina by using light-and electron-microscopy. The neurons accumulating 5,7-DHT in the cat retina were a few ganglion cells and displaced amacrine cells located in the ganglion cell layer (GCL), and some amacrine cells in the inner nuclear layer (INL). The cell density (per unit area, 1 mm2) of the 5,7-DHT accumulating cells in the GCL and INL was 910 and 134 cells, respectively. Most 5,7-DHT accumulating cells showed dark degeneration characterized by widening of the cellular organelles at early stage, and by darkening of the cytoplasm at a late stage. In addition, amacrine cells, showing a typical filamentous degeneration, were observed in a few cases. The degenerated neurons were phagocytosed by microglial cells and astrocytes. The immunoreactivity for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in Muller cells was increased at early stage, but thereafter abruptly decreased. In a few cases, severe degenerative changes were observed in Miller cells. These results indicate that 5,7-DHT induces severe dark degeneration of IACs, and most degenerated cells could be eliminated by microglial cells and astrocytes in the cat retina.
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