by Poon Hong Kit. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-161). / Abstract also in Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.i / ABSTRACT (ENGLISH/CHINESE) --- p.ii / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.vi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.viii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.x / INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.4 / Chapter I. --- Models for studying photoreceptor cell death --- p.4 / Chapter II. --- Photic retinopathy --- p.5 / Chapter II.1. --- Proposed Mechanisms of Photic Retinopathy --- p.5 / Chapter II.2. --- Factors Affecting Photic Retinopathy --- p.6 / Chapter II.3. --- Pathologic Processes of Photic Retinopathy --- p.7 / Chapter III. --- P53 --- p.9 / Chapter III.1. --- Historical Perspective --- p.9 / Chapter III.2. --- Structure of p53 --- p.10 / Chapter III.2.1. --- The p53 Gene & mRNA --- p.10 / Chapter III.2.2. --- The p53 Protein --- p.10 / Chapter III.3. --- Modifications of p53 Protein --- p.13 / Chapter III.4. --- Functions of p53 --- p.14 / Chapter III.4.1. --- p53 & Tumors --- p.14 / Chapter III.4.2. --- p53 & DNA Damage --- p.15 / Chapter III.4.3. --- p53 & Apoptosis --- p.16 / Chapter III.4.3.1. --- p53-dependent Apoptosis --- p.16 / Chapter III.4.3.2. --- p53-independent Apoptosis --- p.20 / Chapter IV. --- clusterin --- p.22 / Chapter IV. 1. --- Historical Perspective --- p.22 / Chapter IV.2. --- Structure of Clusterin --- p.22 / Chapter IV.2.1. --- Clusterin Gene & mRNA --- p.22 / Chapter IV.2.2. --- Clusterin Protein --- p.22 / Chapter IV.3. --- Functions of Clusterin --- p.22 / Chapter IV.3.1. --- Clusterin & Apoptosis --- p.23 / OBJECTIVES --- p.24 / MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.26 / Chapter V. --- Sample collections --- p.26 / Chapter V.l. --- Induction of Photic Injury in Rat --- p.26 / Chapter V.2. --- Tissue Processing --- p.26 / Chapter V.2.1. --- Paraffin-embedded Tissues --- p.26 / Chapter V.2.2. --- Epoxy-embedded Tissues --- p.27 / Chapter V.3. --- Cell Culture --- p.28 / Chapter VI. --- Light-microscopic study --- p.29 / Chapter VI. 1. --- Histopathology --- p.29 / Chapter VI.1.1. --- Toluidine Blue --- p.29 / Chapter VI. 1.2. --- Morphometry of the ONL Thickness --- p.29 / Chapter VI.2. --- In situ TUNEL --- p.29 / Chapter VI.2.1. --- Morphometry of TUNEL --- p.29 / Chapter VI.3. --- Immunohistochemistry --- p.30 / Chapter VI.3.1. --- Single-labeling --- p.30 / Chapter VI.3.1.1. --- Immunolabeling of p53 Protein --- p.31 / Chapter VI.3.1.2. --- Immunolabeling of p21 Protein --- p.31 / Chapter VI.3.1.3. --- Immunolabeling of bax Protein --- p.31 / Chapter VI.3.1.4. --- Immunolabeling of c-fos Protein --- p.32 / Chapter VI.3.1.5 --- Immunolabeling of Clusterin Protein --- p.32 / Chapter VI.3.2. --- Double-labeling --- p.32 / Chapter VI.3.2.1. --- TUNEL & Fluorescent-labeling of p53 --- p.32 / Chapter VI.3.2.2. --- TUNEL & Fluorescent-labeling of p21 --- p.33 / Chapter VI.3.3. --- Grading of Immunoreactivities --- p.33 / Chapter VI.3.4. --- Morphometry of c-fos Immuno-positive Nuclei --- p.33 / Chapter VI.4. --- In situ RT-PCR --- p.34 / Chapter VI.4.1. --- Isolation of Retinal DNA --- p.34 / Chapter VI.4.2. --- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) --- p.34 / Chapter VI.4.3. --- In situ Reverse Transcriptase 226}0ؤ PCR (RT-PCR) --- p.35 / RESULTS --- p.37 / Chapter VII. --- LIGHT-MICROSCOPY --- p.37 / Chapter VII.1. --- Histopathology & Morphometry --- p.37 / Chapter VII. 1.1. --- Histopathology --- p.37 / Chapter VII.1.2. --- Morphometry of the ONL Thickness --- p.49 / Chapter VII.2. --- DNA Nicks Detection --- p.42 / Chapter VII.2.1. --- In situ TUNEL --- p.42 / Chapter VII.2.2. --- Morphometry of TUNEL --- p.42 / Chapter VII.3. --- p53 --- p.51 / Chapter VII.3.1. --- Immunohistochemistry of p53 --- p.51 / Chapter VII.3.2. --- Grading of p53 Immunoreactivities --- p.51 / Chapter VII.3.3. --- p53 in situ RT-PCR --- p.51 / Chapter VII.3.4. --- Double-labeling ofp53 with in situ TUNEL --- p.59 / Chapter VII.4. --- p21 --- p.74 / Chapter VII.4.1. --- Immunohistochemistry of p21 --- p.74 / Chapter VII.4.2. --- Grading of p21 Immunoreactivities --- p.74 / Chapter VII.4.3. --- Double-labeling of p21 with in situ TUNEL --- p.74 / Chapter VII.5. --- bax --- p.84 / Chapter VII.5.1. --- Immunohistochemistry of bax --- p.84 / Chapter VII.5.2. --- Grading of bax Immunoreactivities --- p.84 / Chapter VII.5.3. --- bax in situ RT-PCR --- p.84 / Chapter VII.6. --- c-fos --- p.96 / Chapter VII.6.1. --- Immunohistochemistry of c-fos --- p.96 / Chapter VII.6.2. --- Morphometry of c-fos immuno-positive nuclei & TUNEL --- p.96 / Chapter VII.7. --- Clusterin / Chapter VII.7.1. --- Immunohistochemistry of Clusterin --- p.108 / Chapter VII.7.2. --- Grading of Clusterin Immunoreactivities --- p.108 / discussion --- p.116 / Chapter VIII. 1. --- Summary --- p.116 / Chapter VIII.1.1. --- Histopathology & Morphometry --- p.118 / Chapter VIII.1.2. --- In situ TUNEL --- p.119 / Chapter VIII.1.3. --- p53 & c-fos --- p.119 / Chapter VIII.1.4. --- p27 --- p.124 / Chapter VIII.1.5. --- bax --- p.124 / Chapter VIII. 1.6. --- Clusterin --- p.124 / Chapter VIII.2. --- Hypothesis --- p.125 / Chapter VIII.3. --- Conclusion --- p.127 / bibliography --- p.129