title: Fgf signaling is required for photoreceptor maintenance in the adult zebrafish retina.
abstract: Fibroblast growth factors (Fgf) are secreted signaling molecules that have mitogenic, patterning, neurotrophic and angiogenic properties. Their importance during embryonic development in patterning and morphogenesis of the vertebrate eye is well known, but less is known about the role of Fgfs in the adult vertebrate retina. To address Fgf function in adult retina, we determined the spatial distribution of components of the Fgf signaling pathway in the adult zebrafish retina. We detected differential expression of Fgf receptors, ligands and downstream Fgf targets within specific retinal layers. Furthermore, we blocked Fgf signaling in the retina, by expressing a dominant negative variant of Fgf receptor 1 conditionally in transgenic animals. After blocking Fgf signaling we observe a fast and progressive photoreceptor degeneration and disorganization of retinal tissue, coupled with cell death in the outer nuclear layer. Following the degeneration of photoreceptors, a profound regeneration response is triggered that starts with proliferation in the inner nuclear layer. Ultimately, rod and cone photoreceptors are regenerated completely. Our study reveals the requirement of Fgf signaling to maintain photoreceptors and for proliferation during regeneration in the adult zebrafish retina.
authors.affiliation: DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Cluster of Excellence (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hochmann
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaslin
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hans
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machate
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geffarth
authors.forename: Richard H W
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brand
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D016923:Cell Death / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051496:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D051496:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1