BACKGROUND: To develop the use of cultured tissue of the prelaminar optic nerve of the @entity1707 to explore possible alterations of the astrocyte-axon metabolic pathways in @entity726 , we map the distribution of the @entity413 transporters @entity67485 and @entity70506 in fresh and cultured tissue. METHODS: We monitor cell survival in cultures of the prelaminar optic-nerve tissue, measuring @entity39 and apoptosis markers biochemically as well as morphologically, and establish the presence of the @entity413 transporters @entity67485 and @entity70506 . We map the distribution of these transporters with immunolabeling in histological sections of the optic nerve using confocal and electronic transmission microscopy. RESULTS: We find that the main death type in prelaminar culture is apoptosis. @entity70507 staining reveals an increment in apoptosis from day 1 to day 4 and a reduction from day 4 to day 8. Western blotting for @entity67485 shows stability with increased culture time. CLSM micrographs locate @entity67485 in the columnar astrocytes and in the area of axonal bundles. Anti- @entity70506 predominantly labels axonal bundles. TEM immunolabeling with colloidal gold displays a very specific distribution of @entity67485 in the membranes of vascular endothelial cells and in periaxonal astrocyte expansions. The @entity70506 isoform is observed with TEM only in axons in the axonal bundles. CONCLUSIONS: Tissue culture is suitable for apoptosis-induction experiments. The results suggest that @entity413 is transported to the axonal cleft intracytoplasmically and delivered to the cleft by @entity67485 transporters. As @entity3338 transporters have been reported in the prelaminar region of the optic-nerve head, this area is likely to use both @entity880 and @entity413 as energy sources.

Expression of @entity413 Transporters in the Prelaminar Region of the Optic-Nerve Head of the XXXX as Determined by Immunolabeling and Tissue Culture.

@entity1707 :: ('9823', 'Species') :: ['pig'] @entity39 :: ('MESH:D009336', 'Disease') :: ['necrosis'] @entity70506 :: ('100626468', 'Gene') :: ['GLUT3', 'GLUT-3'] @entity67485 :: ('397404(Tax:9823)', 'Gene') :: ['GLUT1', 'GLUT-1'] @entity726 :: ('MESH:D005901', 'Disease') :: ['glaucoma'] @entity880 :: ('MESH:D019344', 'Chemical') :: ['lactate'] @entity70507 :: ('100156777(Tax:9823)', 'Gene') :: ['Caspase 7'] @entity3338 :: ('CHEBI:35757', 'Chemical') :: ['monocarboxylate'] @entity413 :: ('MESH:D005947', 'Chemical') :: ['glucose']
@entity1707 :: (9823,Species) :: ['Pig']
