Specific alterations of tyrosine hydroxylase immunopositive cells in the retina of NT-4 knock out mice.
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.
Calamusa
Martina
M
Istituto di Neuroscienze, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
Pattabiraman
Padmanabhan Paranji
PP
Pozdeyev
Nikita
N
Iuvone
P Michael
PM
Cellerino
Alessandro
A
Domenici
Luciano
L
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*
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; C073922:neurotrophin 4; D004298:Dopamine