title: Programmed cell death of retinal cone bipolar cells is independent of afferent or target control.
abstract: Programmed cell death contributes to the histogenesis of the nervous system, and is believed to be modulated through the sustaining effects of afferents and targets during the period of synaptogenesis. Cone bipolar cells undergo programmed cell death during development, and we confirm that the numbers of three different types are increased when the pro-apoptotic Bax gene is knocked out. When their cone afferents are selectively eliminated, or when the population of retinal ganglion cells is increased, however, cone bipolar cell number remains unchanged. Programmed cell death of the cone bipolar cell populations, therefore, may be modulated cell-intrinsically rather than via interactions with these synaptic partners.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5060, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Keeley
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5060, USA.
authors.forename: Nils R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5060, USA.
authors.forename: Ace J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: St John
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5060, USA; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA. Electronic address: breese@psych.ucsb.edu.
authors.forename: Benjamin E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Reese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology*; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C494827:Bax protein, mouse; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
keywords: Apoptosis; Bax; Cone photoreceptor; Development; Retinal ganglion cell; Trophic factor