Immumohistochemical localization of protein kinase C (PKC) beta I in the pig retina during postnatal development

Abstract

To investigate the expression of protein kinase C (PKC) beta I in the retinas of pigs during postnatal development, we analyze the retinas sampled from 3-day-old and 6-month-old pigs by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Western blot analysis detected the expression of PKC beta I in the retinas of 3-day-old piglets and it was increased significantly in the retinas of 6-month-old adult pigs. Immunohistochemical staining showed PKC beta I in the retinas of both groups. Immunohistochemistry of 3-day-old retinas revealed weak PKC beta I reactivity in the ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer, inner nuclear cell layer, and outer plexiform layer and rod and cone cell layer. In the 6-month-old pig retina, the cellular localization of PKC beta I immunostaining was similar to those of 3-day-old retina, where PKC beta I was localized in some glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells, glutamine synthetase-positive cells, parvalbumin-positive cells, and PKC alpha-positive cells in the retina. This is the first study to show the expression and cellular localization of PKC beta I in the retina of pigs with development, and these results suggest that PKC beta I, in accordance with PKC alpha, play important roles in signal transduction pathways in the pig retina with development.