The effect of estrogen on retinal ganglion cell apoptosis and Bcl-2 expression in retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury of rabbit

Objective: To explore the effects of estrogen on retinal ganglion cell apoptosis and Bcl-2 expression in retinal ischemiareperfusion injury of rabbit. Methods: The animals were randomly divided into the sham operation group,ischemia group and estrogen treatment group,the ischemia group and estrogen treatment group were subdivided into 3,6,12,24 and 72 h time-point after reperfusion. The retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury model of rabbit was established. The retinal ganglion cell apoptosis was detected using TUNEL method,the bcl-2 expressions in retinal tissue at different time-points were detected by immunohistochemistry SABC method. Results: The number of TUNEL-positive retinal ganglion cells in estrogen treatment group at 12,24 and 72 h after reperfusion were less than that in ischemia group( P 0. 05 to P 0. 01). Compared with the ischemia group,the number of bcl-2 positive cells in estrogen treatment group significantly increased at 12,24 and 72 h after reperfusion( P 0. 01). Conclusions: Estradiol benzoate can increase the bcl-2 anti-apoptosis gene expression in retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury,and play a therapeutic effect on retinal ischemia reperfusion injury through inhibiting the cell apoptosis.