Changes in Thy-1 antigen immunoreactivity in the rat retina during pre- and postnatal development.
Although Thy-1 is one of the most abundant surface glycoproteins in mammalian central neurons, its functional role is still not clarified. In this study we demonstrate that Thy-1 expression in the rat retina starts only at embryonic day 19 on both the cell somas and processes of retinal ganglion cells. Thy-1 immunoreactivity in the ganglion cell layer increases until postnatal day 14 and is paralleled by an increase in the thickness of the inner plexiform layer. Thus, the beginning of Thy-1 expression is correlated with a developmental stage when axonal elongation and neurite sprouting of ganglion cells has finished and refinement of synaptic structures in the colliculus superior begins. From postnatal day 9 on, Thy-1 immunoreactivity can also be observed on cell somas at the border of the inner plexiform/inner nuclear layer.
Schmid
S
S
Abt. II Pathophysiologie des Sehens und Neuro-Opthalmologie, Universitäts-Augenklinik, Tübingen, Germany.
Guenther
E
E
Kohler
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*
D018800:Thy-1 Antigens