Protein expression of genes related to apoptosis in retina of human fetus

Purpose To study the proteins expression of genes related to apoptosis of retinal cells in development of human fetus. Methods Fifty cases of retinas of human fetus aged from 12 to 38 weeks were collected and paraffin embedded sections were made. Immunohistochemical method was used. Results Fas protein was expressed by cells of ganglion cell layer, inner and outer nuclear later, which were just formed on 16th week. It was not expressed until 38th week, Fas(+) staining appeared in layers of retina. Fas-L(+) staining was detected in cells of layers of retina on 26th week and the positive staining located in ganglion cell layer on 32th week. Neuronal fiber layer was Fas-L positive. Bax positive staining was detected on 8th week. Bax positive nucleus were observed mainly in GCL and ONL on 16th week. It was in INL on 24th week and in Muller cells inner terminates on 26th week. After this time, all cells of retina were bax immune negative staining. Bcl-2(+) staining appeared in differentiating neuroblastic layer on 16th week. Beginning on 24th week, bcl-2 (+) staining was observed in glial cells of GCL and inner terminates of Muller cell. Conclusion Apoptosis of developing retinal cell may be Fas/Fas-L independent and bax may be involved in apoptosis of the cells.