Immunocytochemical localization of ornithine aminotransferase in human ocular tissues
T. Mito, T. Shiono, S. Ishiguru, M. Tamai, K. Mizuno and T. Ohura
Department of Ophthalmology, University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina is a rare inherited form
chorioretinal degeneration caused by a deficiency of ornithine
aminotransferase. We localized the enzyme in human ocular tissues using
immunocytochemical procedures. Immunoreactivity was observed in the
nonpigmented epithelium of the ciliary body and lens epithelium. In the
retina, ganglion cells and some amacrine cells were immunoreactive.
Pigmented granules made it difficult to identify immunoreactive products in
the iris, pigmented epithelium of the ciliary body, choroid, and retinal
pigment epithelium. Our findings suggested that ornithine aminotransferase
plays an important role in ornithine metabolism in these oculartissues.