Cone cells fail to develop normally in transgenic mice showing ablation of rod photoreceptor cells.
Transgenic mice were derived containing the cytotoxic dt-alpha gene driven by opsin promoter sequences. Mice expressing this construct showed progressive degeneration of rod photoreceptor cells commencing at birth, with obvious depletion of such cells by postnatal day 7. Ablation of rod photoreceptor cells in the transgenic retina was accompanied by the failure of developing cone cells to elaborate outer segments, although all other aspects of cone cell cytodifferentiation appeared normal. The results suggest that the 1.0-kb opsin promoter segment contains rod cell type specificity and that cone cells require maturation of rod cells to complete the late stages of their terminal differentiation and for their maintenance and cellular integrity.
Usukura
J
J
Department of Anatomy, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Khoo
W
W
Abe
T
T
Breitman
M L
ML
Shinohara
T
T
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012160:Retina / Q000254:growth & development*; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D017299:Rod Opsins / Q000235:genetics; D013569:Synapses / Q000648:ultrastructure
D004167:Diphtheria Toxin; D005136:Eye Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D017299:Rod Opsins