NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Spatiotemporal features of early neuronogenesis differ in wild-type and albino mouse retinaIn albino mammals, lack of pigment in the retinal pigment epithelium is associated with retinal defects, including poor visual acuity from a photoreceptor deficit in the central retina and poor depth perception from a decrease in ipsilaterally projecting retinal fibers. Possible contributors to these abnormalities are reported delays in neuronogenesis (Ilia and Jeffery, 1996) and retinal maturation (Webster and Rowe, 1991). To further determine possible perturbations in neuronogenesis and/or differentiation, we used cell-specific markers and refined birth dating methods to examine these events during retinal ganglion cell (RGC) genesis in albino and pigmented mice from embryonic day 11 (E11) to E18. Our data indicate that relative to pigmented mice, more ganglion cells are born in the early stages of neuronogenesis in the albino retina, although the initiation of RGC genesis in the albino is unchanged. The cellular organization of the albino retina is perturbed as early as E12. In addition, cell cycle kinetics and output along the nasotemporal axis differ in retinas of albino and pigmented mice, both absolutely, with the temporal aspect of the retina expanded in albino, and relative to the position of the optic nerve head. Finally, blocking melanin synthesis in pigmented eyecups in culture leads to an increase in RGC differentiation, consistent with a role for melanin formation in regulating RGC neuronogenesis. These results point to spatiotemporal defects in neuronal production in the albino retina, which could perturb expression of genes that specify cell fate, number, and/or projection phenotype.
Document ID
20040088283
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Rachel, Rivka A.
(College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University New York, New York 10032, United States)
Dolen, Gul
Hayes, Nancy L.
Lu, Alice
Erskine, Lynda
Nowakowski, Richard S.
Mason, Carol A.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 2002
Publication Information
Publication: The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Volume: 22
Issue: 11
ISSN: 0270-6474
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: EY12736
CONTRACT_GRANT: CA13696
CONTRACT_GRANT: RR10506
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Developmental Biology
Non-NASA Center

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available