This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The vitreous is the largest structure of the eye and it plays a fundamental role in our visiaon. Unfortunately, numerous factors including genetic, biological, and environmental elements as well as, the aging process can all promote or cause syneris or vitreous-related diseases of the eye. Such a synergetic process causes change in the mechanical properties of the vitreous, namely in viscoelasticity. Previous studies on the rheological characterization of mammalian vitreous humor at Grambling State University (GSU) reveals that there are significant differences between the rheological parameters of the porcine and bovine vitreous humor. In this study, the vitreous was found to possess a significant degree of elasticity particularly, within the central portions of both the porcine and bovine vitreous. The peripheral (outer) region of the vitreous humor showed significant variation between the two species. Thus, in order to gain an understanding of the mechanism underlying posterior vitreous detachment, it is necessary to identify and quantify the chemical components of the vitreous, the nature of the interaction between these chemical components, and correlate these data with the rheological parameters in order to determine the role played by the chemical constituents on the variation of the physical parameters within the vitreous. The goals of this proposal therefore are: (i) identify and characterize regional (peripheral and central) differences in macromolecular concentrations in the vitreous humor, (ii) quantify the regional differences in chemical composition among different species, using the techniques of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI-TOFMS) and Liquid Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS), (iii) Establish both microfluidic and capillary electrophoresis migration patterns of proteins present in the vitreous humor. Such a study will allow experimental protocols tailored towards the characterization of the vitreous humor proteins to be developed as well as, serve as biomarkers for the onset of eye disease.
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