Abstract: Objective To observe the changes in sortilin and p75NTR protein expressions in retina of rats following optic nerve transaction combined with high intraocular pressure. Methods Sixty healthy male Wistar rats, were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control (control, n=6), sham (n=6), optic nerve transaction (NT, n=24), and NT combined with high intraocular pressure (NP, n=24) groups. In addition, the NT and NP groups were subdivided into 1, 3, 7 and 14 days' group (n=6 for each group). The p75NTR and sortilin protein expression levels were determined by the quantitative analysis of Western blot. Results The protein expressions of p75NTR, and sortilin increased significantly (p<0.05) in retina of rats from NP group at day 3, 7 and 14 when compared with control, sham and NT groups. Conclusion The increased p75NTR and sortilin protein expressions in retina of rats following high intraocular pressure came from retinal RGC themselves.These results also suggested that the enhanced sortilin (90ku) and p75NTR (60/50ku) protein expressions might be involved in the high ocular pressure-induced retinal RGC injuries of rats.

Key words: Optic nerve transaction, High intraocular pressure, Glaucoma, p75NTR, Sortilin