Müller glia are a potential source of neural regeneration in the postnatal chicken retina.
The retina of warm-blooded vertebrates is believed to be incapable of neural regeneration. Here we provide evidence that the retina of postnatal chickens has the potential to generate new neurons. In response to acute damage, numerous Müller glia re-entered the cell cycle, and shortly thereafter, expressed CASH-1, Pax6 and Chx10, transcription factors expressed by embryonic retinal progenitors. These progenitor-like cells transiently expressed neurofilament. Newly formed cells became distributed throughout the inner and outer nuclear layers of the retina, and remained for at least three weeks after damage. Some of these newly formed cells differentiated into retinal neurons, a few formed Müller glia, and most remained undifferentiated, with continued expression of Pax6 and Chx10. These cells continued to proliferate when grown in culture, with some differentiating into retinal neurons or Müller glia. We propose that, in response to damage, Müller glia in the retina are a potential source of neural regeneration.
Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington School of Medicine, Health Science Center, PO Box 357420, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
A J
AJ
Fischer
T A
TA
Reh
D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D030161:Avian Proteins; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009498:Neurotoxins; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C099107:CASH-1 protein, Gallus gallus; C082927:retinoic acid binding protein I, cellular