Investigating HuR's Role in Metallothionein-Mediated Neuroprotection

This experimental approach was followed to investigate whether hur gene silencing leads to the impairment of metallothionein II (MT)-mediated neuroprotective properties in RGCs in a glaucoma model. For this purpose, 16 animals were divided into two groups: experimental (shRNA-HuR, n = 8) and control (shRNA-scramble control, n = 8) groups. All animals received an AAV injection into the right eye. Eight weeks after the AAV injection, we performed episcleral vein cauterization in the limbal area of the right eye to induce glaucoma. A decrease in the aqueous humor outflow to episcleral veins resulted in an elevated IOP. Simultaneously, following episcleral vein cauterization, rats from each group received an intravitreal injection of 1 μg/mL MT (3 μL per eye) into the right eye. The left eye was untreated. During the follow-up period, ERG measurements were performed. Animals were sacrificed after a follow-up time of 8 weeks, and the retina and optic nerves were processed for quantitative analyses of RGCs and axons, respectively.