Objective    To determine the differentially expressed genes in the retina of SD rats with chronic high intraocular pressure (IOP) by a large-scale Oligo microarray.     Methods    After the high IOP SD rat model was established

the rats were sacrificed in 7

35

60

90

180 and 360 d respectively

and their retina was resected for total RNA. After large-scale Oligo microarray

the obtained genes were identified as “active” or “differentiated” for the subsequent analysis. Active genes were those which were expressed and had no obvious change in all above-mentioned 6 time points. “Differentiated” gene must be “active”

and the difference between the maximum and minimum of the 6 time points was greater than 2-fold change (≥2 or ≤0.5).  Among the total 35 000 genes on the gene chip

the differential genes were divided to higher expressed (Ratio≥2) and lower expressed genes (Ratio≤0.5)

and were further categorized according to their functions. Some important genes facilitating to axon growth

orientation and guidance were further analyzed.     Results    There were 1 692 genes identified as differentiated

with 719 genes of high expression (Ratio ≥2)

including 6 of over-expression (Ratio ≥7)

and with 973 genes of low expression (Ratio≤0.5). Among the highly expressed 719 genes

there were 54% with no idea about their functions

and the left with known or partially known functions were categorized into 14 groups. During the retinal injury repairing

the genes related to protein synthesis

material transduction and metabolism were most significant

and the genes facilitating to axon growth

orientation and guidance

related to suppress axon growth and neuron migration were also significant.     Conclusion      A differential genes bank of chronic high IOP injury of SD rat retina is established

and these differential genes might play vital roles in the retinal injury induced by high IOP.