Apoptosis of rat lens epithelial cells after eye contusion and effects of Survivin gene on apoptosis

Objective To investigate the apoptotic characteristics of rat lens epithelial cells(LEC) after eye contusion,and study the effects of Survivin gene on the apoptosis of LEC.Methods Forty-five adult Wistar rats were chosen,5 cases were set as normal control group,and other 40 cases were randomized into group A,B,C,D,10 cases in each group.Contusion eyes were induced by dropping a steel ball of 20 g from a height of 20 cm in group A,B,C,D.The lens was extracted at 1 hour(group A),12 hours(group B),24 hours(group C) and 48 hours(group D) after eye trauma,the apoptosis of LEC and expression of Survivin gene were detected.Results No pathological apoptosis or expression of Survivin gene were found in group A or normal rats.Apoptosis and expression of Survivin were observed in group B,C and D,the apoptotic rate were(14.54±2.98) %,(41.54±6.07) % and(25.38±4.72) %,respectively,there were statistical differences between group C and group B,D(t=9.19,6.64,both P0.05).The relative expressions of Survivin gene in group B,C,D were 0.357±0.105,0.582±0.131 and 0.386±0.143,respectively.The relative expression of Survivin gene and apoptotic rate has a negative correlation in group B,C and D(r=-0.795,-0.806,-0.832,both P0.05).Conclusion The apoptosis of rat LEC and expression of Survivin gene can be observed after eye contusion.Apoptotic peak appears at 24 hours after trauma.Survivin gene may have an anti-apoptosis effect on the apoptosis of LEC after eye contusion.