Immunocytochemical study of dystrophin localization in cone cells of mouse retinas.
OBJECTIVE
Previously, the authors reported that dystrophin was observed under the rod cell membranes in rat retinas. However, it was not determined whether dystrophin is located in cone cells. In the current study, the authors clarify dystrophin localization in cone cells of mouse retinas.


METHODS
Immunoblotting, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and immunoelectron microscopy were used to investigate retinal dystrophin with a monoclonal antibody raised against the human dystrophin C-terminus.


RESULTS
Immunoblotting analysis showed some immunoreactive bands from retinal extracts. Confocal images indicated two different immunostaining patterns: One was a tiny dot, and the other was a larger, aggregated dot. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that retinal dystrophin was localized in cone cells as well as in rod cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Retinal dystrophin is a common component of cone and rod cells and probably is related to the physiological function of photoreceptor cells.
Ueda
H
H
Department of Anatomy, Yamanashi Medical University, Tamaho, Japan.
Kato
Y
Y
Baba
T
T
Terada
N
N
Fujii
Y
Y
Tsukahara
S
S
Ohno
S
S
D000818:Animals; D016189:Dystrophin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D016189:Dystrophin