AIM: To observe the expression of Acin1(apoptotic chromatin condensation inducer 1)in congenital cataract mouse retina during development and investigate the differences of retinal apoptosis and the connection of lens and retina development between congenital cataract mouse and normal mouse.

METHODS: There were congenital cataract mice(10 female and 5 male)and normal C57BL/6 mice(10 female and 5 male). One male and two female mice were fed in the same cage randomly. The young mice were divided into two groups: congenital cataract group and normal control group. Five young mice were treated each group on 1, 5, 9, 14, 17, 21, 26, 60d. The left eyes were fixed with 4% neutral formalin to detect ACIN1 protein by immunohistochemistry and retinas from right eyes were used to detect the mRNA expression of Acin1.

RESULTS: Acin1 had sustained expression in each group. ACIN1 protein gradually expressed from the ganglion cell layer, inner nuclear layer to the outer nuclear layer following retinal development. It mainly expressed on ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer, but not neuroblastoma layer. ACIN1 protein positive cells on P1～P14d increased in normal control group, P17d reduced, after P21d positive cells of each layers decreased. The overall trend was similar in congenital cataract group with normal control group, P1～P14d positive cells count was lower than normal control group, P17-P21d positive cells were flat and higher than the normal control group. Compared with the same day of the two groups, the differences except for P17, P26, P60d were significant(P<0.05). The overall difference was statistically significant in congenital cataract group(F_cataract=295.07, P<0.01); in addition to P1 and P5, P17 and P21, the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05)compared with each other in congenital cataract group. The overall difference was statistically significant in control group(F_normal=214.21, P<0.01); in addition to P1 and P5d, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05)compared with each other in control group. The expression of P17d in congenital cataract group was lower compared with that of P14d in control group, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). Acin1 mRNA trends of two groups were similar with ACIN1 protein. Compared with the same day of the two groups, the difference was significant except for P17, P21, P60d(P<0.05). The overall difference was statistically significant in each other of the two groups(F_cataract=522.29, P<0.01; F_normal=472.05, P<0.01). The difference was statistically significant compared with each day in control group(P<0.05). Compared with all the rest of days except for P21 and P26d, the difference was statistically significant in congenital cataract group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Acin1 exist differential expression of time and space in mouse retina during development, congenital cataract crystal developmental disorder may affect the expression of Acin1 and retinal cell apoptosis and development.