PUBLICATION

Characterisation of neuronal and glial populations of the visual system during zebrafish lifespan

Authors
Arenzana, F.J., Santos-Ledo, A., Porteros, A., Aijón, J., Velasco, A., Lara, J.M., and Arévalo, R.
ID
ZDB-PUB-110325-12
Date
2011
Source
International journal of developmental neuroscience : the official journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience   29(4): 441-449 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
Calretinin, Development, GFAP, zn-1
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Astrocytes/cytology
  • Astrocytes/physiology*
  • Biomarkers/metabolism
  • Calbindin 2
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/metabolism
  • Humans
  • Neurons/cytology
  • Neurons/physiology*
  • Retina/cytology*
  • Retina/physiology
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein G/metabolism
  • Superior Colliculi/cytology*
  • Superior Colliculi/physiology
  • Visual Pathways/anatomy & histology*
  • Zebrafish/anatomy & histology*
  • Zebrafish/growth & development*
  • Zebrafish Proteins
PubMed
21392569 Full text @ Int. J. Dev. Neurosci.
Abstract
During visual system morphogenesis, several cell populations arise at different time points correlating with the expression of specific molecular markers We have analysed the distribution pattern of three molecular markers (zn-1, calretinin and glial fibrillary acidic protein) which are involved in the development of zebrafish retina and optic tectum. zn-1 is a neural antigen expressed in the developing zebrafish central nervous system. Calretinin is the first calcium-binding protein expressed in the central nervous system of vertebrates and it is widely distributed in different neuronal populations of vertebrate retina, being a valuable marker for its early and late development. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), which is an astroglial marker, is a useful tool for characterising the glial environment in which the optic axons develop. We describe the expression profile changes in these three markers throughout the zebrafish lifespan with special attention to ganglion cells and their projections. zn-1 is expressed in the first postmitotic ganglion cells of the retina. Calretinin is observed in the ganglion and amacrine cells of the retina in neurons of different tectal bands and in axons of retinofugal projections. GFAP is localised in the endfeet of Müller cells and in radial processes of the optic tectum after hatching. A transient expression of GFAP in the optic nerve, coinciding with the arrival of the first calretinin-immunoreactive optic axons, is observed. As axonal growth occurs in these regions of the zebrafish visual pathway (retina and optic tectum) throughout the lifespan, a relationship between GFAP expression and the correct arrangement of the first optic axons may exist. In conclusion we provide valuable neuroanatomical data about the best characterised sensorial pathway to be used in further studies such as teratology and toxicology.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping