Pax-6, Prox 1, and Chx10 homeobox gene expression correlates with phenotypic fate of retinal precursor cells.

作者：Teri L. Belecky‐Adams, Stanislav I. Tomarev, H S Li, Lynda Ploder, Roderick R. McInnes, Olof H. Sundin, Ruben Adler · 发表于：PubMed · 年份：1997 · 被引用次数：240 · 研究领域：Retinal Development and Disorders、Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation、Connexins and lens biology

PURPOSE: To study the expression patterns of the homeobox genes Pax-6, Prox 1, and Chx10 during chick retinal development in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: Sections of paraformaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded eyes were obtained at a range of developmental stages. In situ hybridization was carried out on tissue sections using digoxigenin-labeled sense and antisense RNA probes that recognize chicken Pax-6 and Prox 1 (whose sequences were already available), and chicken Chx10 (which was cloned and sequenced as part of this study). Selected developmental stages were also studied by immunocytochemistry with antibodies against Pax-6 and Prox 1, and by Northern blot analysis using 32P-labeled probes. RESULTS: Until embryonic day (ED) 5, in situ hybridization shows widespread, diffuse distribution of all three genes. Between ED 6 and ED 8, however, they acquire distinct, topographically specific patterns of expression. The Prox 1 signal is predominantly expressed in the prospective horizontal cell layer of the neuroepithelium, decreases vitreally, and is absent from ganglion cells and the prospective photoreceptor layer. Pax-6 is strongly expressed only in the prospective ganglion-cell and amacrine-cell regions at the same stages, and is not detected in prospective photoreceptors. Chx10 expression becomes concentrated in the future bipolar-cell region of the inner nuclear layer. Similar patterns are maintained by ED 15 through ED 18, after cell differentiation has taken place. Pax-6 an...