Retinal organization in the bcl-2-overexpressing transgenic mouse.
Naturally occurring cell death is believed to play a major role during the development of the nervous system in the establishment of neuronal architecture. Here we study the effects of cell death inhibition by using a transgenic mouse in which the powerful antiapoptotic gene bcl-2 is expressed in neurons. The retina of this mouse reveals that the general neuronal plan has been maintained. However, bcl-2 overexpression leads to altered frequencies of the major cell types in the retina. Thus, it is possible to estimate cell-type-specific rates of apoptosis by observing the increases in numbers of cells in the bcl-2-overexpressing transgenic mouse.
Strettoi
Enrica
E
Istituto di Neurofisiologia del CNR, Area della Ricerca CNR, 56100 Pisa, Italy. strettoi@in.pi.cnr.it
Volpini
Maila
M
D025042:Amacrine Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007395:Interneurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2