Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2025, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (7): 2116-2128.doi: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-23-01035

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Müller cells are activated in response to retinal outer nuclear layer degeneration in rats subjected to simulated weightlessness conditions

Yuxue Mu1, 2, #, Ning Zhang3, #, Dongyu Wei1, #, Guoqing Yang1 , Lilingxuan Yao4 , Xinyue Xu1 , Yang Li5 , Junhui Xue1, 2, *, Zuoming Zhang1, *, Tao Chen1, 2, *   

  1. 1 Aerospace Clinical Medical Center, School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China;  2 Department of Aviation Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China;  3 Department of Emergency Medicine, Wuhan No.1 Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China;  4 Third Regiment, School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China;  5 Fourth Regiment, School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
  • Online:2025-07-15 Published:2024-11-27
  • Contact: Tao Chen, PhD, ct1988@fmmu.edu.cn; Zuoming Zhang, PhD, zhangzm@fmmu.edu.cn; Junhui Xue, PhD, xuejunhui@fmmu.edu.cn.
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the Army Laboratory Animal Foundation of China, No. SYDW[2020]22 (to TC); the Shaanxi Provincial Key R&D Plan General Project of China, No. 2022SF-236 (to YM); and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82202070 (to TC).

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Abstract: A microgravity environment has been shown to cause ocular damage and affect visual acuity, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, we established an animal model of weightlessness via tail suspension to examine the pathological changes and molecular mechanisms of retinal damage under microgravity. After 4 weeks of tail suspension, there were no notable alterations in retinal function and morphology, while after 8 weeks of tail suspension, significant reductions in retinal function were observed, and the outer nuclear layer was thinner, with abundant apoptotic cells. To investigate the mechanism underlying the degenerative changes that occurred in the outer nuclear layer of the retina, proteomics was used to analyze differentially expressed proteins in rat retinas after 8 weeks of tail suspension. The results showed that the expression levels of fibroblast growth factor 2 (also known as basic fibroblast growth factor) and glial fibrillary acidic protein, which are closely related to Müller cell activation, were significantly upregulated. In addition, Müller cell regeneration and Müller cell gliosis were observed after 4 and 8 weeks, respectively, of simulated weightlessness. These findings indicate that Müller cells play an important regulatory role in retinal outer nuclear layer degeneration during weightlessness.

Key words: glial fibrous acidic protein, gliosis, Müller cells, nerve growth factor, neural differentiation, neurodegeneration, proteomic, retinal degeneration, retinal outer nuclear layer, simulated weightlessness