Cellular apoptosis in hemorrhage retinal detachment in rabbits

Objective To observe the cellular apoptosis of retina and the expression of p53 that is an apoptosis-related gene in a rabbit model of hemorrhage retinal detachment(HRD).To evaluate the effect of apoptosis in HRD.Methods Forty-two eyes of 21 rabbits were divided into two groups randomly:in the experimental group,HRD was established with subretinal autologous blood 0.2ml;and in the control group,the heparine sodium was injected correspondingly.Four eyes of 2 rabbits were the normal control group.Apoptotic cells were detected by TUNEL assay in 1h,1d,3d,7d,10d,14d,28d after the establishment of HRD.The expressions of p53 gene protein and mRNA in the models of HRD and RD were evaluated with immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.Results There were many TUNEL-positive cells in the outer retinal layers 1d after the establishment of HRD models,and the number of TUNEL-positive cells reached a peak 3d after HRD.Then apoptotic cells appeared in the inner retinal layers 7d after HRD.There were significant expressions of p53 1d to 7d after HRD and the positive cells peaked in 3d.In 1d,3d and 7d,the number of positive cells in experimental group were higher than that in the control group(P0.001).Conclusion Apoptosis may play an important role in mechanism of HRD.