title: Ptf1a is essential for the differentiation of GABAergic and glycinergic amacrine cells and horizontal cells in the mouse retina.
abstract: Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors are important regulators of retinal neurogenesis. In the developing retina, proneural bHLH genes have highly defined expressions, which are influenced by pattern formation and cell-specification pathways. We report here that the tissue-specific bHLH transcription factor Ptf1a (also known as PTF1-p48) is expressed from embryonic day 12.5 of gestation (E12.5) to postnatal day 3 (P3) during retinogenesis in the mouse. Using recombination-based lineage tracing, we provide evidence that Ptf1a is expressed in precursors of amacrine and horizontal cells. Inactivation of Ptf1a in the developing retina led to differentiation arrest of amacrine and horizontal precursor cells in addition to partial transdifferentiation of Ptf1a-expressing precursor cells to ganglion cells. Analysis of late cell-type-specific markers revealed the presence of a small population of differentiated amacrine cells, whereas GABAergic and glycinergic amacrine cells, as well as horizontal cells, were completely missing in Ptf1a-knockout retinal explants. We conclude that Ptf1a contributes to the differentiation of horizontal cells and types of amacrine cells during mouse retinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: II. Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universtität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, D-81675 Munich, Germany. hassan.nakhai@lrz.tum.de
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakhai
authors.forename: Saadettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sel
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Favor
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Torres
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.forename: Gernot I W
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Duncker
authors.forename: Roland M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Schmid
mesh_terms: D025042:Amacrine Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005998:Glycine / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors; C062602:transcription factor PTF1; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases; D005998:Glycine