Zhiwei Li1, Wei Chen2, Hongyuan Zhang3, Changxia Cui4. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University , Jinan, China. 2. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Eye Institute , Tianjin, China. 3. Department of Gynaecology, Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology and Obstetrics , Tianjin, China. 4. Department of Health Examination, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University , Jinan, China.
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the relation of aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) expression and scleral biomechanical strength. Method: Guinea pigs with 3 weeks old received intravitreal injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV) containing AQP-1 or si-AQP-1 sequence, by which to up- or downregulate the AQP-1 expression in choroid. Animals were sacrificed 4 weeks after treatment. Then the expression of AQP-1 in the choroid was determined using western blotting, and the sclera stiffness recorded as Young's modulus was determined using tension test. The relation of AQP-1 expression and sclera stiffness was then analyzed. Results: Immunostaining revealed that AQP-1 protein expression was mainly observed in choroidal vascular endothelial cells layer. After the upregulation of AQP-1 expression, the scleral stiffness is slightly increased compared with that in control, but without significant difference. After the downregulation of AQP-1 expression, the scleral stiffness is lower than that in control group (p < .001). There is a positive relation between AQP-1 expression and sclera stiffness (p < .001). Conclusion: The present study revealed that the AQP-1 depletion downregulates the sclera biomechanical strength, which provides information for better understanding the mechanism of myopia development.
Purpose: To evaluate the relation of aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) expression and scleral biomechanical strength. Method: Guinea pigs with 3 weeks old received intravitreal injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV) containing AQP-1 or si-AQP-1 sequence, by which to up- or downregulate the AQP-1 expression in choroid. Animals were sacrificed 4 weeks after treatment. Then the expression of AQP-1 in the choroid was determined using western blotting, and the sclera stiffness recorded as Young's modulus was determined using tension test. The relation of AQP-1 expression and sclera stiffness was then analyzed. Results: Immunostaining revealed that AQP-1 protein expression was mainly observed in choroidal vascular endothelial cells layer. After the upregulation of AQP-1 expression, the scleral stiffness is slightly increased compared with that in control, but without significant difference. After the downregulation of AQP-1 expression, the scleral stiffness is lower than that in control group (p < .001). There is a positive relation between AQP-1 expression and sclera stiffness (p < .001). Conclusion: The present study revealed that the AQP-1 depletion downregulates the sclera biomechanical strength, which provides information for better understanding the mechanism of myopia development.
Authors: Barbara Lamagna; Paolo Ciaramella; Francesco Lamagna; Antonio Di Loria; Arturo Brunetti; Alessandra Pelagalli Journal: Animals (Basel) Date: 2020-05-09 Impact factor: 2.752