Objective To observe the expression of p53, bcl-2 genes, vascular endothelial cell growth factor（VEGF）, basic fibroblast growth factor（bFGF）, insulin-like growth factor-I （IGF-I）, and the receptors of these factors of retinal vascular endothelial cells (VECs) of 1- to 20-week diabetic rats, and the relationship between the expressions and cell cycle arrest.Methods Retinal sections of diabetic rats induced by alloxan were immunohistochemically stained and observed by light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopy (EM). Dot blotting and Western blotting were used to determine the expression of mRNA, proteins of p53 and bcl-2. Results Under LM, immunohistochemical positive expression of p53 and bcl-2 were found on the vessels of ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer of retinae of 8- to 20-week diabetic rats; under EM, these substances were observed depositing in VECs. The retinal VECs also expressed VEGF, bFGF, IGF-I and their receptors. There was no positive expression of other cell types in these retinae, all cell types of retinae in control group, or all cells of retinae of diabetic rats with the course of disease of 1 to 6 weeks. The result of dot blotting revealed that retinal tissue of 20-week diabetic rat expressed p53 and bcl-2 mRNA, and the result of Western blotting revealed that they also expressed p53 and bcl-2 proteins. But retinal tissues of control group did not. Positive expression of bax was not found in the retinae in control group or 1- to 20-week diabetic rats. Conclusion p53, bcl-2 may introduce cell cycle arrest of VECs of retinae in 8- to 20-week diabetic rats. High glucose might stimulate the expression of VEGF, bFGF, IGF-I and their receptors, and the growth factors may keep VECs surviving by self-secretion. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2003，19：29-33)
Objective To study the effect of hypoxia on proliferation of cultured bovine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and expression of the antiapoptotic protein bcl-2. Methods The bovine RPE cells were cultured under normal and hypoxic chamber respectively. After 24 hours, the proliferation of RPE cells was evaluated by［3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, MTT］test. At the same time, anti-bcl-2 protein antibody was examined by immuno-histochemistry method. Results The A value in the hypoxia group was higher than that in the normal group after 24 hours (P＜0.05 )in MTT-test. Positive staining for anti-bcl-2 protein antibody was seen in 72.6% cells in hypoxia group and 38.64% in normal group. The positive staining was more obvious near the nucleus, and fine granules scattered in cytoplasm of some cells. Conclusion Hypoxia can stimulate the proliferation of RPE cells and expression of antiapoptotic protein bcl-2. The results indicate that bcl-2 may play an important role in mediating the proliferation activity of RPE cells. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 293-295)