Cell cycle-specific and cell type-specific expression of Rb in the developing human retina.
OBJECTIVE
To define the pattern of Rb expression relative to cell cycle position and cell type in the developing human retina.


METHODS
Cryosections of fetal week 11-18 retinas were immunostained for Rb and cell cycle- or cell type-specific markers.


RESULTS
Rb was prominent in retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) expressing the cyclin D1, cyclin A, and cytoplasmic cyclin B markers of G1, S, and early to mid G2 phases, but not in RPCs expressing the phosphohistone H3 marker of late G2 and M. Rb was not detected in the earliest postmitotic ganglion, amacrine, horizontal, and bipolar cell precursors migrating away from the ventricular layer, but was detected as such cells underwent further differentiation. Among photoreceptors, Rb was not detected in the earliest RXRgamma(+) cone precursors or in the earliest Nrl(+) rod precursors, but subsequently rose to high levels in cones and to low levels in rods. Rb was prominent at the time when Müller glia exit the cell cycle and was generally expressed in a pattern complementary to p27(Kip1).


CONCLUSIONS
Rb exhibits cell cycle-specific expression in RPCs, with loss in late G2-M and restoration in G1. Rb is re-expressed after postmitotic ganglion, amacrine, horizontal, and bipolar cell precursors migrate away from the ventricular layer; after the appearance of early cone and rod markers; but coinciding with Müller glia cell cycle withdrawal. The results suggest that Rb does not mediate the initial proliferative arrest of retinal neurons, but may indirectly induce arrest in RPCs or maintain an arrest in postmitotic precursors.
Lee
Thomas C
TC
Margaret M. Dyson Vision Research Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Almeida
Dena
D
Claros
Nidia
N
Abramson
David H
DH
Cobrinik
David
D
D025042:Amacrine Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D019925:Cyclin A / Q000378:metabolism; D019926:Cyclin B / Q000378:metabolism; D056741:Cyclin D; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / Q000378:metabolism; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010641:Phenotype; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051245:Retinal Bipolar Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051248:Retinal Horizontal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
D019925:Cyclin A; D019926:Cyclin B; D056741:Cyclin D; D016213:Cyclins; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27