Distribution of the cellular retinoic acid binding protein CRABP-I in the developing chick optic tectum

CRABP-I Expression Patterns in the Developing Chick Inner Ear

The vertebrate inner ear is a complex three-dimensional sensorial structure with auditory and vestibular functions, regarded as an excellent system for analyzing events that occur during development, such as patterning, morphogenesis, and cell specification. Retinoic acid (RA) is involved in all these development processes. Cellular retinoic acid-binding proteins (CRABPs) bind RA with high affinity, buffering cellular free RA concentrations and consequently regulating the activation of precise specification programs mediated by particular regulatory genes. In the otic vesicle, strong CRABP-I expression was detected in the otic wall's dorsomedial aspect, where the endolymphatic apparatus develops, whereas this expression was lower in the ventrolateral aspect, where part of the auditory system forms. Thus, CRABP-I proteins may play a role in the specification of the dorsal-to-ventral and lateral-to-medial axe of the otic anlagen. Regarding the developing sensory patches, a process partly involving the subdivision of a ventromedial pro-sensory domain, the CRABP-I gene displayed different levels of expression in the presumptive territory of each sensory patch, which was maintained throughout development. CRABP-I was also relevant in the acoustic-vestibular ganglion and in the periotic mesenchyme. Therefore, CRABP-I could protect RA-sensitive cells in accordance with its dissimilar concentration in specific areas of the developing chick inner ear.

Optic nerve injury upregulates retinoic acid signaling in the adult frog visual system

Retinoic acid (RA) is important during development, in neuronal plasticity, and also in peripheral nervous system regeneration. Here we use the frog visual system as a model to investigate the changes in RA signaling that take place after axonal injury to the central nervous system. Immunocytochemistry was used to localize different components of RA signaling within sections of the retina and optic tectum, namely, the synthetic enzyme retinaldehyde dehydrogenase (RALDH), the RA binding proteins CRABPI and II, the retinoic acid receptors RARα, β and γ, and finally the catabolic enzyme CYP26A1. The levels of these proteins were quantified in extracts of retina and tectum using Western blotting. Animals were studied at 1 week, 3 weeks and 6 weeks after optic nerve transection. At the latter time point the RGC axons were re-entering the optic tectum. All the components of RA signaling were present at low to moderate levels in retinas and tecta of control, unoperated animals. In retina, soon after optic nerve injury there was a large increase in RALDH, some increase in the CRABPs, and a large increase in RGC RARβ and (expression. These increases continued as the RGC axons were regenerating, with the addition of later RARα expression at 6 weeks. At no stage did CYP26A1 expression significantly change. In the tectum the levels of RALDH increased after axotomy and during regrowth of axons (3 weeks), then decreased at 6 weeks, at which time the levels of CYP26A1 increased. Axotomy did not cause an immediate increase in tectal RAR levels but RARα and RARβ increased after 3 weeks and RARγ only after 6 weeks. These results are consistent with RA signaling playing an important role in the survival and regeneration of frog RGCs.

Expressions of cellular retinoic acid binding proteins I and retinoic acid receptor-β in the guinea pig eyes with experimental myopia

AIM

All-trans retinoic acid (RA) is the only extrinsic biochemical candidate known to date that could act as a growth controller, the aim of this study was to investigate the expression cellular retinoic acid binding proteins I (CRABP-I) and retinoic acid receptor-β (RAR-β) in retina of the guinea pig eyes with experimental myopia.

METHODS

Ninety guinea pigs aged 14 days were equally and randomly divided into three groups: form deprivation (FD), -5D lens, and control. The diffusers for FD were white translucent hemispheres, and -5D lenses were used to introduce hyperopic defocus. Refraction was measured with streak retinoscopy after cycloplegia, and axial length was calculated with Cinescan A/B ultrasonography. Retina harvested at different time points were used to measure RA level with HPLC and expressions of cellular retinoic acid binding proteins I (CRABP-I) and RA receptor-β (RAR-β) were assayed with Western blot and Real-time PCR. SPSS13.0 software was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Up-regulations of CRABP-I and RAR-β in ocular tissues correlated with changes in the refractive status and growth rate of the guinea pig eye (P<0.05). 14 days of monocular form-deprivation led to -5.14D myopia and a 0.281mm axial elongation; 14 days of monocular defocus produced -3.64D myopia and a 0.163 mm axial elongation. The level of retinal RA started to elevate in 7 days (P<0.05) after visual manipulation in both FD and -5D lens groups and became more prominent by 14 days (P<0.01) . The expressions of CRABP-I and RAR-β increased by 14 days after visual manipulation (P<0.05), the mRNA level of RAR-β, however, increased by 7 days after visual manipulation (P<0.05), which suggested that changes of expressions of CRABP-I and RAR-β might lag behind the change of RA.

CONCLUSION

The levels of CRABP-I and RAR-β were elevated in retina of the guinea pig eye with experimental myopia. During the progression of experimental myopia, the retinal RA level increased rapidly, and there might be a positive feedback between the increase of RA and up-regulation of RAR-β.