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Control of late off-center cone bipolar cell differentiation and visual signaling by the homeobox gene Vsx1.

Chow, Robert L. and Völgyi, Béla and Szilard, Rachel K. and Ng, David and McKerlie, Colin (2004) Control of late off-center cone bipolar cell differentiation and visual signaling by the homeobox gene Vsx1. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 101 (6). pp. 1754-1759. ISSN 0027-8424

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Abstract

Retinal bipolar cells are interneurons that transmit visual signals from photoreceptors to ganglion cells. Although the visual pathways mediated by bipolar cells have been well characterized, the genes that regulate their development and function are largely unknown. To determine the role in bipolar cell development of the homeobox gene Vsx1, whose retinal expression is restricted to a major subset of differentiating and mature cone bipolar (CB) cells, we targeted the gene in mice. Bipolar cell fate was not altered in the absence of Vsx1 function, because the pan-bipolar markers Chx10 and Ret-B1 continued to be expressed in inner nuclear layer neurons labeled by the Vsx1-targeting reporter gene, tauLacZ. The specification, number, and gross morphology of the subset of on-center and off-center (OFF)-CB cells defined by tauLacZ expression from the Vsx1 locus were also normal in Vsx1(tauLacZ)/Vsx1(tauLacZ) mice. However, the terminal differentiation of OFF-CB cells in the retina of Vsx1(tauLacZ)/Vsx1(tauLacZ) mice was incomplete, as demonstrated by a substantial reduction in the expression of at least four markers (recoverin, NK3R, Neto1, and CaB5) for these interneurons. These molecular abnormalities were associated with defects in retinal function and documented by electroretinography and in vitro ganglion cell recordings specific to cone visual signaling. In particular, there was a general reduction in the light-mediated activity of OFF, but not on-center, ganglion cells. Thus, Vsx1 is required for the late differentiation and function of OFF-CB cells and is associated with a heritable OFF visual pathway-specific retinal defect.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: Q Science / természettudomány > QH Natural history / természetrajz > QH301 Biology / biológia > QH3015 Molecular biology / molekuláris biológia
Q Science / természettudomány > QH Natural history / természetrajz > QH426 Genetics / genetika, örökléstan
R Medicine / orvostudomány > RB Pathology / patológia, kórtan
R Medicine / orvostudomány > RC Internal medicine / belgyógyászat > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry / idegkórtan, neurológia, pszichiátria
R Medicine / orvostudomány > RE Ophthalmology / szemészet
SWORD Depositor: MTMT SWORD
Depositing User: MTMT SWORD
Date Deposited: 04 Aug 2014 08:08
Last Modified: 29 Sep 2015 20:51
URI: http://real.mtak.hu/id/eprint/14059

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