Synaptogenesis and outer segment formation are perturbed in the neural retina of Crx mutant mice.
BACKGROUND
In Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA), affected individuals are blind, or nearly so, from birth. This early onset suggests abnormal development of the neural retina. Mutations in genes that affect the development and/or function of photoreceptor cells have been found to be responsible in some families. These examples include mutations in the photoreceptor transcription factor, Crx.


RESULTS
A Crx mutant strain of mice was created to serve as a model for LCA and to provide more insight into Crx's function. In this study, an ultrastructural analysis of the developing retina in Crx mutant mice was performed. Outer segment morphogenesis was found to be blocked at the elongation stage, leading to a failure in production of the phototransduction apparatus. Further, Crx-/- photoreceptors demonstrated severely abnormal synaptic endings in the outer plexiform layer.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of a synaptogenesis defect in an animal model for LCA. These data confirm the essential role this gene plays in multiple aspects of photoreceptor development and extend our understanding of the basic pathology of LCA.
Morrow
Eric M
EM
Department of Genetics and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, New Research Building, Room 360K, NRB, Room 360K, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. EMORROW@PARTNERS.ORG
Furukawa
Takahisa
T
Raviola
Elio
E
Cepko
Constance L
CL
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D029242:Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012160:Retina / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012374:Rod Cell Outer Segment / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; C109288:cone rod homeobox protein