Short Communication

Deposition of Nidogens and Other Basement Membrane Proteins in the Young and Aging Mouse Retina
Alexander Kunze^{a, b}, Elizabeth Abari^d, Irina Semkova^d, Mats Paulsson^a–c, Ursula Hartmann<sup>a, b

a</sup>Center for Biochemistry, Medical Faculty,
^bCologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases and
^cCenter for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, and
^dDepartment of Ophthalmology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmic Res 2010;43:108-112 (DOI: 10.1159/000247595)

  Key Words

• Retina, mouse
• Basement membrane
• Nidogen
• Laminin
• Perlecan
• Collagen IV

  Abstract

Aim: To determine the distribution of major basement membrane constituents, particularly nidogen 1 and 2, in young and aging mouse retinae. Methods: The specificity of antibodies against basement membrane proteins was ascertained by immunoblotting with proteins extracted from mouse retinae. The same antibodies were used in indirect immunofluorescence microscopy to localize basement membrane proteins in paraffin sections of retinae from 1-, 12- and 18-month-old C57BL/6 mice. Results: At a young age, laminin, perlecan and collagen IV were most abundant in Bruch’s membrane. Later, the proteins were clearly detected in capillary basement membranes and the inner limiting membrane. In both of these basement membranes, a massive increase in protein amount was seen upon aging, whereas in Bruch’s membrane the staining intensity was less drastically changed. Both nidogen 1 and 2 were present in vascular basement membranes and Bruch’s membrane throughout the age periods studied. In the inner limiting membrane, the nidogens were more strongly expressed at higher ages, with an earlier and more extensive deposition of nidogen 1. Conclusions: All major basement membrane constituents are present in the mouse retina, but the onset of deposition differs among the different proteins and between the various retinal basement membranes. In general, basement membrane protein deposition increases with age.

Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. Ursula Hartmann
Center for Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne
Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 52
DE–50931 Cologne (Germany)
Tel. +49 221 478 6944, Fax +49 221 478 6977, E-Mail ursula.hartmann@uni-koeln.de

  Article Information

Received: May 15, 2009
Accepted after revision: July 15, 2009
Published online: October 15, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 15