title: Specific alterations of tyrosine hydroxylase immunopositive cells in the retina of NT-4 knock out mice.
abstract: To assess the effect of NT-4 deprivation on maturation of retinal circuitry, we investigated a mouse with targeted deletion of the gene encoding nt-4 (nt-4(-/-)). In particular, we studied neurons immunostained by an antibody recognizing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate limiting enzyme for dopamine (DA) synthesis. We found that TH immunopositive processes were altered in the retina of nt-4(-/-). Alteration of TH immunopositive processes in nt-4(-/-) mice resulted in changes of DA turnover, as assessed by high-pressure liquid chromatography measurements. These findings suggest that retinal NT-4 plays a role in the morphological maturation of dopaminergic retinal cells.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Neuroscienze, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calamusa
authors.forename: Padmanabhan Paranji
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Pattabiraman
authors.forename: Nikita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pozdeyev
authors.forename: P Michael
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Iuvone
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cellerino
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Domenici
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012160:Retina / Q000201:enzymology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; C073922:neurotrophin 4; D004298:Dopamine