Binding of FITC-coupled peanut-agglutinin (FITC-PNA) to embryonic chicken retinas reveals developmental spatio-temporal patterns.
FITC-labeled peanut agglutinin (PNA), a lectin from peanut (Arachis hypogaea) which binds specifically to D-galactose, was used as a probe to trace the distribution of PNA-lectin receptors during early development of chick retina. We found that specific fluorescence within the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and the outer plexiform layer (OPL) appears at different developmental stages. The specific fluorescence of the IPL first appears near the central area of the ventro-posterior quadrant of the 7-day retina, then extends progressively towards the periphery, reaching the ora serrata earlier on the posterior than on the anterior side. The development of the specific fluorescence of the OPL follows the same scheme, but it appears later (starting at day 9) than that of the IPL and it is less pronounced. The spatio-temporal patterns of the expression of the lectin receptors show relationships to those of withdrawal of proliferating cells from mitosis, and of other events related to differentiation.
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002642:Chick Embryo; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008959:Models, Neurological; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology*
D037102:Lectins; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen