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Growth of the postnatal rat retina in vitro: Quantitative RT-PCR analyses of mRNA expression for photoreceptor proteins

Liljekvist Soltic, Ingela LU ; Torngren, M ; Abrahamson, Magnus LU and Johansson, Kjell LU (2003) In Molecular Vision 9(79). p.657-664
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate whether previously reported changes in protein expression of middle and long (M/L) and short (S) wavelength cone opsin pigments in cultured retina are correlated with changes in their gene expression. Additionally, to elucidate the importance of a functional retinal pigment epithelium for the development of photoreceptor outer segments. Methods: Neonatal rat retinas were maintained in culture for 11 days and either fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for immunohistochemistry or prepared for RNA extraction, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and quantitative RT-PCR. S-cone and M/L-cone photoreceptors as well as rod photoreceptors were immunohistochemically identified using specific antibodies. Peanut... (More)
Purpose: To investigate whether previously reported changes in protein expression of middle and long (M/L) and short (S) wavelength cone opsin pigments in cultured retina are correlated with changes in their gene expression. Additionally, to elucidate the importance of a functional retinal pigment epithelium for the development of photoreceptor outer segments. Methods: Neonatal rat retinas were maintained in culture for 11 days and either fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for immunohistochemistry or prepared for RNA extraction, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and quantitative RT-PCR. S-cone and M/L-cone photoreceptors as well as rod photoreceptors were immunohistochemically identified using specific antibodies. Peanut agglutinin (PNA)-lectin histochemistry was used to identify interphotoreceptor matrix associated with cone photoreceptors. Immunolabeling for ED-1 and RPE65 was performed in combination with PNA-lectin staining to examine interactions between photoreceptor cells and the retinal pigment epithelium. Relative estimates of mRNA expression levels for M/L-opsin, S-opsin, recoverin, and rhodopsin in normal and cultured retina were determined by using quantitative RT-PCR. Results: Strong immunolabeling for recoverin and rhodopsin accumulated in outer segments as well as photoreceptor somata in vitro. Cultured and normal retinas showed similar relative expression levels of recoverin and rhodopsin mRNA. In cultured rat retina, the density of S-cones was high and M/L-cones could not be immunohistochemically detected. However, M/L-cone photoreceptor mRNA was detectable, but at a fourfold lower level in cultured than in vivo retinas. The S-cone photoreceptor mRNA level was almost twofold lower than in vivo. Retinal pigment epithelium cells in cultured specimens showed no RPE65 immunolabeling, but expressed immunolabeling for ED-1 indicating phagocytic activity of these cells in vitro. Conclusions: We assume that the high density of S-cones and virtually no M/L-cones seen in in vitro retinas might represent an immature stage with numerous S-cones and suppressed transdifferentiation into M/L-cone phenotype. A non-functional relationship between photoreceptor cells and a dysfunctional retinal pigment epithelium may have severe consequences for the development of outer segments. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Molecular Vision
volume
9
issue
79
pages
657 - 664
publisher
Molecular Vision
external identifiers
  • wos:000187431900001
  • pmid:14685147
  • scopus:0347300609
ISSN
1090-0535
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
65e068f8-05f9-4605-ade5-8f2de3fd17a7 (old id 292334)
alternative location
http://www.molvis.org/molvis/v9/a79/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14685147&dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 17:01:47
date last changed
2022-01-28 23:50:14
@article{65e068f8-05f9-4605-ade5-8f2de3fd17a7,
  abstract     = {{Purpose: To investigate whether previously reported changes in protein expression of middle and long (M/L) and short (S) wavelength cone opsin pigments in cultured retina are correlated with changes in their gene expression. Additionally, to elucidate the importance of a functional retinal pigment epithelium for the development of photoreceptor outer segments. Methods: Neonatal rat retinas were maintained in culture for 11 days and either fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for immunohistochemistry or prepared for RNA extraction, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and quantitative RT-PCR. S-cone and M/L-cone photoreceptors as well as rod photoreceptors were immunohistochemically identified using specific antibodies. Peanut agglutinin (PNA)-lectin histochemistry was used to identify interphotoreceptor matrix associated with cone photoreceptors. Immunolabeling for ED-1 and RPE65 was performed in combination with PNA-lectin staining to examine interactions between photoreceptor cells and the retinal pigment epithelium. Relative estimates of mRNA expression levels for M/L-opsin, S-opsin, recoverin, and rhodopsin in normal and cultured retina were determined by using quantitative RT-PCR. Results: Strong immunolabeling for recoverin and rhodopsin accumulated in outer segments as well as photoreceptor somata in vitro. Cultured and normal retinas showed similar relative expression levels of recoverin and rhodopsin mRNA. In cultured rat retina, the density of S-cones was high and M/L-cones could not be immunohistochemically detected. However, M/L-cone photoreceptor mRNA was detectable, but at a fourfold lower level in cultured than in vivo retinas. The S-cone photoreceptor mRNA level was almost twofold lower than in vivo. Retinal pigment epithelium cells in cultured specimens showed no RPE65 immunolabeling, but expressed immunolabeling for ED-1 indicating phagocytic activity of these cells in vitro. Conclusions: We assume that the high density of S-cones and virtually no M/L-cones seen in in vitro retinas might represent an immature stage with numerous S-cones and suppressed transdifferentiation into M/L-cone phenotype. A non-functional relationship between photoreceptor cells and a dysfunctional retinal pigment epithelium may have severe consequences for the development of outer segments.}},
  author       = {{Liljekvist Soltic, Ingela and Torngren, M and Abrahamson, Magnus and Johansson, Kjell}},
  issn         = {{1090-0535}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{79}},
  pages        = {{657--664}},
  publisher    = {{Molecular Vision}},
  series       = {{Molecular Vision}},
  title        = {{Growth of the postnatal rat retina in vitro: Quantitative RT-PCR analyses of mRNA expression for photoreceptor proteins}},
  url          = {{http://www.molvis.org/molvis/v9/a79/}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2003}},
}