Objective: To evaluate the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) signaling pathway in the state of
intraocular hypertension. Methods: We established an intraocular hypertension model of BN rats model of
BN rats through the injection of magnetic microspheres into anterior chamber angle, and then evaluated this model by measuring the survival rates of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) through retrograde Fluorogold labelling.
Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of HIF-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A)
and erythropoietin (EPO) in the retinal tissue, and HIF-1α protein’s alterable trend as well as its relationship
with intraocular pressure (IOP) was analyzed. Results: The IOP was (40.33±2.94) mmHg at the ffrst day affer
elevation, (68.83±2.85) mmHg at the third day, and (43.67±2.94) mmHg at the tenth day, then kept stable later.
TTe survival rates of RGCs among central, middle and peripheral retina decreased from 61.1%±1.6%, 68.5%±2.0%,
73.6%±1.5%, at the second week to 33.2%±1.8%, 43.4%±2.4%, 51.4%±2.1% at the third week, the differences were
statistically signiffcant (P<0.01). The protein expression of HIF-1α, VEGF-A and EPO reached the peak at the
third day when the IOP was at the highest level, then decreased with the drop of IOP. The correlation coefffcient
between the protein gray value of HIF-1α/GAPDH and IOP among the 3rd
day, 7th
day, 2 weeks and the control
was 0.977, 0.886, 0.763 respectively (P<0.01). Conclusion: The expression of HIF-1α had a positive relationship
with IOP in certain condition, and the early activation of HIF-1 signaling pathway might play an important role in
the process of glaucoma.