Abstract
We identify the presence of progenitor cells during retinal development in the dog, as this species represents a natural model for studying several breed-specific degenerative retinal disorders. Antibodies to detected progenitor cells (Pax6, C-kit, and nestin) and ganglion cells (BDNF, Brn3a, and Thy1) were used in combination with H3 for the purpose of identifying proliferating cells. Pax6, nestin, C-kit, and H3 were localized mainly in the neuroblastic layer of the retina during the embryonic stage. During the fetal stage, proteins were expressed in the inner neuroblastic layer (INL) as well as in the outer neuroblastic layer; BDNF, Thy1, and Brn3a were also expressed in the INL. During the neonatal stage only C-kit was not expressed. Proliferating cells were present in both undifferentiated and differentiated retina. These results suggest that, during canine retinogenesis, progenitor cells are distributed along the retina and some of these cells remain as progenitor cells of the ganglion cells during the first postnatal days.
Highlights
Progressive retinal cell death is a common phenomenon observed in human or animal degenerative eye diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy, age-related macular degeneration, retinal detachment, and glaucoma [1]
It was observed that cells from the nuclear area migrated to the internal marginal zone, forming two nuclear layers: the inner neuroblastic layer (INBL), and the outer neuroblastic layer (ONBL, Figure 1(f))
In the innermost part of the INBL some ganglion cells project their axons in order to initiate the formation of the optic nerve, forming the nerve fiber layer (NFL)
Summary
Progressive retinal cell death is a common phenomenon observed in human or animal degenerative eye diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy, age-related macular degeneration, retinal detachment, and glaucoma [1]. Stem cells are being investigated as a potential cellular source for replacing damaged RPE or photoreceptor cells [2] Both adult bone-marrowderived stem cells and embryonic stem cells are being used in animal models with the goal of investigating how to induce appropriate cell integration and differentiation. Stem cells derived from the pars plicata and pars plana of the retinal cell margin of human eyes produced all of the different cell types, demonstrating multipotentiality [4]. Based on these data, it was suggested that the sphere-forming cells in the mammalian ciliary epithelium (CE) are retinal stem cells.
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