Transplanted photoreceptors identified in dystrophic mouse retina by a transgenic reporter gene.
Dissociated photoreceptor cells from a transgenic strain of mice, containing a bovine promoter lac Z gene construct, were transplanted to the dystrophic retinas of a strain of mice (C3H, rd/rd) without obvious photoreceptors. The transgenic photoreceptor cells expressed beta-galactosidase and were distinguishable from the host retinal cells by light and electron microscopy after the 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside histochemical reaction. These results showed that transplanted transgenic photoreceptor cells survived at least 1 month in the host retina and had a primitive outer segment and a well-developed synaptic terminal.
Gouras
P
P
Department of Ophthalmology, E.S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032.
Du
J
J
Kjeldbye
H
H
Kwun
R
R
Lopez
R
R
Zack
D J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005697:Galactosides; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007211:Indoles; D007763:Lac Operon / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000235:genetics; D012374:Rod Cell Outer Segment / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
D005697:Galactosides; D005819:Genetic Markers; D007211:Indoles; D012243:Rhodopsin; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; C044888:5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl beta-galactoside