1
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Kramer AC, Carthage J, Berry Y, Gurdziel K, Cook TA, Thummel R. A comparative analysis of gene and protein expression in chronic and acute models of photoreceptor degeneration in adult zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1233269. [PMID: 37745292 PMCID: PMC10512720 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1233269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Adult zebrafish are capable of photoreceptor (PR) regeneration following acute phototoxic lesion (AL). We developed a chronic low light (CLL) exposure model that more accurately reflects chronic PR degeneration observed in many human retinal diseases. Methods: Here, we characterize the morphological and transcriptomic changes associated with acute and chronic models of PR degeneration at 8 time-points over a 28-day window using immunohistochemistry and 3'mRNA-seq. Results: We first observed a differential sensitivity of rod and cone PRs to CLL. Next, we found no evidence for Müller glia (MG) gliosis or regenerative cell-cycle re-entry in the CLL model, which is in contrast to the robust gliosis and proliferative response from resident MG in the AL model. Differential responses of microglia between the models was also observed. Transcriptomic comparisons between the models revealed gene-specific networks of PR regeneration and degeneration, including genes that are activated under conditions of chronic PR stress. Finally, we showed that CLL is at least partially reversible, allowing for rod and cone outer segment outgrowth and replacement of rod cell nuclei via an apparent upregulation of the existing rod neurogenesis mechanism. Discussion: Collectively, these data provide a direct comparison of the morphological and transcriptomic PR degeneration and regeneration models in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley C. Kramer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Justin Carthage
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Yasmeen Berry
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Katherine Gurdziel
- Genomic Sciences Core, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Tiffany A. Cook
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Ryan Thummel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
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2
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Martins RR, Zamzam M, Tracey-White D, Moosajee M, Thummel R, Henriques CM, MacDonald RB. Müller Glia maintain their regenerative potential despite degeneration in the aged zebrafish retina. Aging Cell 2022; 21:e13597. [PMID: 35315590 PMCID: PMC9009236 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ageing is a significant risk factor for degeneration of the retina. Müller glia cells (MG) are key for neuronal regeneration, so harnessing the regenerative capacity of MG in the retina offers great promise for the treatment of age-associated blinding conditions. Yet, the impact of ageing on MG regenerative capacity is unclear. Here, we show that the zebrafish retina undergoes telomerase-independent, age-related neurodegeneration but that this is insufficient to stimulate MG proliferation and regeneration. Instead, age-related neurodegeneration is accompanied by MG morphological aberrations and loss of vision. Mechanistically, yes-associated protein (Yap), part of the Hippo signalling, has been shown to be critical for the regenerative response in the damaged retina, and we show that Yap expression levels decline with ageing. Despite this, morphologically and molecularly altered aged MG retain the capacity to regenerate neurons after acute light damage, therefore, highlighting key differences in the MG response to high-intensity acute damage versus chronic neuronal loss in the zebrafish retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel R Martins
- The Bateson Centre, Healthy Lifespan Institute, MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing and Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Mazen Zamzam
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Mariya Moosajee
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Ryan Thummel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Catarina M Henriques
- The Bateson Centre, Healthy Lifespan Institute, MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing and Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Ryan B MacDonald
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
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3
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Cocchiaro P, Di Donato V, Rubbini D, Mastropasqua R, Allegretti M, Mantelli F, Aramini A, Brandolini L. Intravitreal Administration of rhNGF Enhances Regenerative Processes in a Zebrafish Model of Retinal Degeneration. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:822359. [PMID: 35330834 PMCID: PMC8940169 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.822359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is the best characterized neurotrophin, and it is known to play an important role in ocular homeostasis. Here, we demonstrated the expression of NGF receptors in adult zebrafish retina and optimized a light-induced retina degeneration (LID) zebrafish model that mimics human cone-rod disorders, demonstrating that intravitreal (IV) administration of rhNGF can boost zebrafish retinal regeneration in this model. Adult zebrafish retinae exposed to 60 h of light irradiation (60 h LID) displayed evident reduction of outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness and cell number with presence of apoptotic cells. Retinal histologic evaluation at different time points showed that IV therapeutic injection of rhNGF resulted in an increase of ONL thickness and cell number at late time points after damage (14 and 21 days post injury), ultimately accelerating retinal tissue recovery by driving retinal cell proliferation. At a molecular level, rhNGF activated the ERK1/2 pathway and enhanced the regenerative potential of Müller glia gfap- and vim-expressing cells by stimulating at early time points the expression of the photoreceptor regeneration factor Drgal1-L2. Our results demonstrate the highly conserved nature of NGF canonical pathway in zebrafish and thus support the use of zebrafish models for testing new compounds with potential retinal regenerative properties. Moreover, the pro-regenerative effects of IV-injected NGF that we observed pave the way to further studies aimed at evaluating its effects also in mammals, in order to expedite the development of novel rhNGF-based therapeutic approaches for ophthalmological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vincenzo Di Donato
- ZeClinics SL, IGTP (Germans Trias I Pujol Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
- *Correspondence: Vincenzo Di Donato, ; Laura Brandolini,
| | - Davide Rubbini
- ZeClinics SL, IGTP (Germans Trias I Pujol Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rodolfo Mastropasqua
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Laura Brandolini
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Napoli, Italy
- *Correspondence: Vincenzo Di Donato, ; Laura Brandolini,
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4
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Magner E, Sandoval-Sanchez P, Kramer AC, Thummel R, Hitchcock PF, Taylor SM. Disruption of miR-18a Alters Proliferation, Photoreceptor Replacement Kinetics, Inflammatory Signaling, and Microglia/Macrophage Numbers During Retinal Regeneration in Zebrafish. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:2910-2931. [PMID: 35246819 PMCID: PMC9018604 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02783-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, photoreceptor loss causes permanent blindness, but in zebrafish (Danio rerio), photoreceptor loss reprograms Müller glia to function as stem cells, producing progenitors that regenerate photoreceptors. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate CNS neurogenesis, but the roles of miRNAs in injury-induced neuronal regeneration are largely unknown. In the embryonic zebrafish retina, miR-18a regulates photoreceptor differentiation. The purpose of the current study was to determine, in zebrafish, the function of miR-18a during injury-induced photoreceptor regeneration. RT-qPCR, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry showed that miR-18a expression increases throughout the retina between 1 and 5 days post-injury (dpi). To test miR-18a function during photoreceptor regeneration, we used homozygous miR-18a mutants (miR-18ami5012), and knocked down miR-18a with morpholino oligonucleotides. During photoreceptor regeneration, miR-18ami5012 retinas have fewer mature photoreceptors than WT at 7 and 10 dpi, but there is no difference at 14 dpi, indicating that photoreceptor regeneration is delayed. Labeling dividing cells with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) showed that at 7 and 10 dpi, there are excess dividing progenitors in both mutants and morphants, indicating that miR-18a negatively regulates injury-induced proliferation. Tracing 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) and BrdU-labeled cells showed that in miR-18ami5012 retinas excess progenitors migrate to other retinal layers in addition to the photoreceptor layer. Inflammation is critical for photoreceptor regeneration, and RT-qPCR showed that in miR-18ami5012 retinas, inflammatory gene expression and microglia activation are prolonged. Suppressing inflammation with dexamethasone rescues the miR-18ami5012 phenotype. Together, these data show that in the injured zebrafish retina, disruption of miR-18a alters proliferation, inflammation, the microglia/macrophage response, and the timing of photoreceptor regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evin Magner
- Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Pamela Sandoval-Sanchez
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL, 32514, USA
| | - Ashley C Kramer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Ryan Thummel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Peter F Hitchcock
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, W. K. Kellogg Eye Center, 1000 Wall Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA
| | - Scott M Taylor
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL, 32514, USA.
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5
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Hammer J, Röppenack P, Yousuf S, Schnabel C, Weber A, Zöller D, Koch E, Hans S, Brand M. Visual Function is Gradually Restored During Retina Regeneration in Adult Zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:831322. [PMID: 35178408 PMCID: PMC8844564 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.831322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In comparison to mammals, zebrafish are able to regenerate many organs and tissues, including the central nervous system (CNS). Within the CNS-derived neural retina, light lesions result in a loss of photoreceptors and the subsequent activation of Müller glia, the retinal stem cells. Müller glia-derived progenitors differentiate and eventually restore the anatomical tissue architecture within 4 weeks. However, little is known about how light lesions impair vision functionally, as well as how and to what extent visual function is restored during the course of regeneration, in particular in adult animals. Here, we applied quantitative behavioral assays to assess restoration of visual function during homeostasis and regeneration in adult zebrafish. We developed a novel vision-dependent social preference test, and show that vision is massively impaired early after lesion, but is restored to pre-lesion levels within 7 days after lesion. Furthermore, we employed a quantitative optokinetic response assay with different degrees of difficulty, similar to vision tests in humans. We found that vision for easy conditions with high contrast and low level of detail, as well as color vision, was restored around 7–10 days post lesion. Vision under more demanding conditions, with low contrast and high level of detail, was regained only later from 14 days post lesion onwards. Taken together, we conclude that vision based on contrast sensitivity, spatial resolution and the perception of colors is restored after light lesion in adult zebrafish in a gradual manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Hammer
- CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies at TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Paul Röppenack
- CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies at TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sarah Yousuf
- CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies at TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Schnabel
- Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anke Weber
- CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies at TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Daniela Zöller
- CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies at TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Edmund Koch
- Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan Hans
- CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies at TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Brand
- CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies at TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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6
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Blackshaw S. Why Has the Ability to Regenerate Following CNS Injury Been Repeatedly Lost Over the Course of Evolution? Front Neurosci 2022; 16:831062. [PMID: 35185460 PMCID: PMC8854365 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.831062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
While many vertebrates can regenerate both damaged neurons and severed axons in the central nervous system (CNS) following injury, others, including all birds and mammals, have lost this ability for reasons that are still unclear. The repeated evolutionary loss of regenerative competence seems counterintuitive, and any explanation must account for the fact that regenerative competence is lost in both cold-blooded and all warm-blooded clades, that both injury-induced neurogenesis and axonal regeneration tend to be lost in tandem, and that mammals have evolved dedicated gene regulatory networks to inhibit injury-induced glia-to-neuron reprogramming. Here, different hypotheses that have been proposed to account for evolutionary loss of regenerative competence are discussed in the light of new insights obtained into molecular mechanisms that control regeneration in the central nervous system. These include pleiotropic effects of continuous growth, enhanced thyroid hormone signaling, prevention of neoplasia, and improved memory consolidation. Recent evidence suggests that the most compelling hypothesis, however, may be selection for greater resistance to the spread of intra-CNS infections, which has led to both enhanced reactive gliosis and a loss of injury-induced neurogenesis and axonal regeneration. Means of testing these hypotheses, and additional data that are urgently needed to better understand the evolutionary pressures and mechanisms driving loss of regenerative competence, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth Blackshaw
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Seth Blackshaw,
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7
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Sharrock AV, Mulligan TS, Hall KR, Williams EM, White DT, Zhang L, Emmerich K, Matthews F, Nimmagadda S, Washington S, Le KD, Meir-Levi D, Cox OL, Saxena MT, Calof AL, Lopez-Burks ME, Lander AD, Ding D, Ji H, Ackerley DF, Mumm JS. NTR 2.0: a rationally engineered prodrug-converting enzyme with substantially enhanced efficacy for targeted cell ablation. Nat Methods 2022; 19:205-215. [PMID: 35132245 PMCID: PMC8851868 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-021-01364-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic expression of bacterial nitroreductase (NTR) enzymes sensitizes eukaryotic cells to prodrugs such as metronidazole (MTZ), enabling selective cell-ablation paradigms that have expanded studies of cell function and regeneration in vertebrates. However, first-generation NTRs required confoundingly toxic prodrug treatments to achieve effective cell ablation, and some cell types have proven resistant. Here we used rational engineering and cross-species screening to develop an NTR variant, NTR 2.0, which exhibits ~100-fold improvement in MTZ-mediated cell-specific ablation efficacy, eliminating the need for near-toxic prodrug treatment regimens. NTR 2.0 therefore enables sustained cell-loss paradigms and ablation of previously resistant cell types. These properties permit enhanced interrogations of cell function, extended challenges to the regenerative capacities of discrete stem cell niches, and novel modeling of chronic degenerative diseases. Accordingly, we have created a series of bipartite transgenic reporter/effector resources to facilitate dissemination of NTR 2.0 to the research community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail V Sharrock
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Timothy S Mulligan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kelsi R Hall
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Elsie M Williams
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - David T White
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Liyun Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kevin Emmerich
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Frazer Matthews
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Saumya Nimmagadda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Selena Washington
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Katherine D Le
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Danielle Meir-Levi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Olivia L Cox
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Meera T Saxena
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Luminomics, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anne L Calof
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Martha E Lopez-Burks
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Arthur D Lander
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Ding Ding
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hongkai Ji
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David F Ackerley
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Centre for Biodiscovery and Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
| | - Jeff S Mumm
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- The Center for Nanomedicine, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Genetic Medicine, McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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8
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Kramer AC, Gurdziel K, Thummel R. A Comparative Analysis of Gene and Protein Expression Throughout a Full 28-Day Retinal Regeneration Time-Course in Adult Zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:741514. [PMID: 34790663 PMCID: PMC8591265 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.741514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Following photoreceptors ablation by intense light exposure, adult zebrafish are capable of complete regeneration due to the ability of their Müller glia (MG) to re-enter the cell cycle, creating progenitors that differentiate into new photoreceptors. The majority of previous reports on retinal regeneration focused on the first few days of the regenerative response, which include MG cell-cycle re-entry and progenitor cell proliferation. With this study, we analyzed the full 28-day time-course of regeneration by pairing a detailed morphological/immunological analysis with RNA-seq transcriptional profiling at 8 key time points during retinal regeneration. We observed several novel findings. First, we provide evidence for two separate peaks of MG gliosis, with the secondary gliotic peak occurring after MG cell-cycle re-entry. Second, we highlight a distinct transcriptional shift between 5- and 10-days post lesion that highlights the transition from progenitor proliferation to differentiation into new photoreceptors. Third, we show distinctly different patterns of transcriptional recovery of the photoreceptor opsins at 28 days post lesion. Finally, using differential gene expression analysis, we revealed that the established functional recovery of the retina at 28 days post lesion does not, in fact, return to an undamaged transcriptional state, potentially redefining what the field considers complete regeneration. Together, to our knowledge, this work represents the first histological and transcriptomic map of a 28-day time-course of retinal regeneration in adult zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley C Kramer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Katherine Gurdziel
- Genome Sciences Core, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Ryan Thummel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
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9
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Sherpa RD, Hui SP. An insight on established retinal injury mechanisms and prevalent retinal stem cell activation pathways in vertebrate models. Animal Model Exp Med 2021; 4:189-203. [PMID: 34557646 PMCID: PMC8446703 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Implementing different tools and injury mechanisms in multiple animal models of retina regeneration, researchers have discovered the existence of retinal stem/progenitor cells. Although they appear to be distributed uniformly across the vertebrate lineage, the reparative potential of the retina is mainly restricted to lower vertebrates. Regenerative repair post-injury requires the creation of a proliferative niche, vital for proper stem cell activation, propagation, and lineage differentiation. This seems to be lacking in mammals. Hence, in this review, we first discuss the many forms of retinal injuries that have been generated using animal models. Next, we discuss how they are utilized to stimulate regeneration and mimic eye disease pathologies. The key to driving stem cell activation in mammals relies on the information we can gather from these models. Lastly, we present a brief update about the genes, growth factors, and signaling pathways that have been brought to light using these models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Subhra Prakash Hui
- S. N. Pradhan Centre for NeurosciencesUniversity of CalcuttaKolkataIndia
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10
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Durant F, Whited JL. Finding Solutions for Fibrosis: Understanding the Innate Mechanisms Used by Super-Regenerator Vertebrates to Combat Scarring. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2100407. [PMID: 34032013 PMCID: PMC8336523 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202100407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Soft tissue fibrosis and cutaneous scarring represent massive clinical burdens to millions of patients per year and the therapeutic options available are currently quite limited. Despite what is known about the process of fibrosis in mammals, novel approaches for combating fibrosis and scarring are necessary. It is hypothesized that scarring has evolved as a solution to maximize healing speed to reduce fluid loss and infection. This hypothesis, however, is complicated by regenerative animals, which have arguably the most remarkable healing abilities and are capable of scar-free healing. This review explores the differences observed between adult mammalian healing that typically results in fibrosis versus healing in regenerative animals that heal scarlessly. Each stage of wound healing is surveyed in depth from the perspective of many regenerative and fibrotic healers so as to identify the most important molecular and physiological variances along the way to disparate injury repair outcomes. Understanding how these powerful model systems accomplish the feat of scar-free healing may provide critical therapeutic approaches to the treatment or prevention of fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fallon Durant
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative BiologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMA02138USA
| | - Jessica L. Whited
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative BiologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMA02138USA
- The Harvard Stem Cell InstituteCambridgeMA02138USA
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11
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Turkalj B, Quallich D, Bessert DA, Kramer AC, Cook TA, Thummel R. Development and characterization of a chronic photoreceptor degeneration model in adult zebrafish that does not trigger a regenerative response. Exp Eye Res 2021; 209:108630. [PMID: 34029596 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have become a highly-utilized model system in the field of regenerative biology because of their endogenous ability to regenerate many tissues and organs, including the retina. The vast majority of previous research on retinal regeneration in adult zebrafish utilizes acute methodologies for retinal damage. Acute retinal cell death triggers a reactive gliosis response of Müller glia (MG), the resident macroglia of the retina. In addition, each activated MG undergoes asymmetric cell division to produce a neuronal progenitor, which continues to divide and ultimately gives rise to new retinal neurons. Studies using these approaches have uncovered many crucial mechanisms by which MG respond to acute damage. However, they may not adequately mimic the chronic neuronal degeneration observed in many human retinal degenerative diseases. The current study aimed to develop a new long-term, chronic photoreceptor damage and degeneration model in adult zebrafish. Comparing the subsequent cellular responses to that of the commonly-used acute high-intensity model, we found that low, continuous light exposure damaged the outer segments of both rod and cone photoreceptors, but did not result in significant apoptotic cell death, MG gliosis, or MG cell-cycle re-entry. Instead, chronic light nearly completely truncated photoreceptor outer segments and resulted in a recruitment of microglia to the area. Together, these studies present a chronic photoreceptor model that can be performed in a relatively short time frame (21 days), that may lend insight into the cellular events underlying non-regenerative photoreceptor degeneration observed in other model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke Turkalj
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA.
| | - Danielle Quallich
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA.
| | - Denise A Bessert
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA.
| | - Ashley C Kramer
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA.
| | - Tiffany A Cook
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA; Wayne State University School of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Detroit, MI, USA.
| | - Ryan Thummel
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA.
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Lahne M, Brecker M, Jones SE, Hyde DR. The Regenerating Adult Zebrafish Retina Recapitulates Developmental Fate Specification Programs. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 8:617923. [PMID: 33598455 PMCID: PMC7882614 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.617923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult zebrafish possess the remarkable capacity to regenerate neurons. In the damaged zebrafish retina, Müller glia reprogram and divide to produce neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) that proliferate and differentiate into both lost neuronal cell types and those unaffected by the damage stimulus, which suggests that developmental specification/differentiation programs might be recapitulated during regeneration. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that developmental competence factors are expressed following photoreceptor damage induced by intense light or in a genetic rod photoreceptor cell ablation model. In both light- and N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)-damaged adult zebrafish retinas, NPCs, but not proliferating Müller glia, expressed fluorescent reporters controlled by promoters of ganglion (atoh7), amacrine (ptf1a), bipolar (vsx1), or red cone photoreceptor cell competence factors (thrb) in a temporal expression sequence. In both damage paradigms, atoh7:GFP was expressed first, followed by ptf1a:EGFP and lastly, vsx1:GFP, whereas thrb:Tomato was observed in NPCs at the same time as ptf1a:GFP following light damage but shifted alongside vsx1:GFP in the NMDA-damaged retina. Moreover, HuC/D, indicative of ganglion and amacrine cell differentiation, colocalized with atoh7:GFP prior to ptf1a:GFP expression in the ganglion cell layer, which was followed by Zpr-1 expression (red/green cone photoreceptors) in thrb:Tomato-positive cells in the outer nuclear layer in both damage paradigms, mimicking the developmental differentiation sequence. However, comparing NMDA- to light-damaged retinas, the fraction of PCNA-positive cells expressing atoh7:GFP increased, that of thrb:Tomato and vsx1:GFP decreased, and that of ptf1a:GFP remained similar. To summarize, developmental cell specification programs were recapitulated during retinal regeneration, which adapted to account for the cell type lost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Lahne
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States.,Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States.,Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
| | - Margaret Brecker
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States.,Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States.,Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
| | - Stuart E Jones
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
| | - David R Hyde
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States.,Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States.,Center for Zebrafish Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
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Multiple cryoinjuries modulate the efficiency of zebrafish heart regeneration. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11551. [PMID: 32665622 PMCID: PMC7360767 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68200-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish can regenerate their damaged hearts throughout their lifespan. It is, however, unknown, whether regeneration remains effective when challenged with successive cycles of cardiac damage in the same animals. Here, we assessed ventricular restoration after two, three and six cryoinjuries interspaced by recovery periods. Using transgenic cell-lineage tracing analysis, we demonstrated that the second cryoinjury damages the regenerated area from the preceding injury, validating the experimental approach. We identified that after multiple cryoinjuries, all hearts regrow a thickened myocardium, similarly to hearts after one cryoinjury. However, the efficiency of scar resorption decreased with the number of repeated cryoinjuries. After six cryoinjuries, all examined hearts failed to completely resolve the fibrotic tissue, demonstrating reduced myocardial restoration. This phenotype was associated with enhanced recruitment of neutrophils and decreased cardiomyocyte proliferation and dedifferentiation at the early regenerative phase. Furthermore, we found that each repeated cryoinjury increased the accumulation of collagen at the injury site. Our analysis demonstrates that the cardiac regenerative program can be successfully activated many times, despite a persisting scar in the wounded area. This finding provides a new perspective for regenerative therapies, aiming in stimulation of organ regeneration in the presence of fibrotic tissue in mammalian models and humans.
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Midkine-a functions as a universal regulator of proliferation during epimorphic regeneration in adult zebrafish. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232308. [PMID: 32530962 PMCID: PMC7292404 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish have the ability to regenerate damaged cells and tissues by activating quiescent stem and progenitor cells or reprogramming differentiated cells into regeneration-competent precursors. Proliferation among the cells that will functionally restore injured tissues is a fundamental biological process underlying regeneration. Midkine-a is a cytokine growth factor, whose expression is strongly induced by injury in a variety of tissues across a range of vertebrate classes. Using a zebrafish Midkine-a loss of function mutant, we evaluated regeneration of caudal fin, extraocular muscle and retinal neurons to investigate the function of Midkine-a during epimorphic regeneration. In wildtype zebrafish, injury among these tissues induces robust proliferation and rapid regeneration. In Midkine-a mutants, the initial proliferation in each of these tissues is significantly diminished or absent. Regeneration of the caudal fin and extraocular muscle is delayed; regeneration of the retina is nearly completely absent. These data demonstrate that Midkine-a is universally required in the signaling pathways that convert tissue injury into the initial burst of cell proliferation. Further, these data highlight differences in the molecular mechanisms that regulate epimorphic regeneration in zebrafish.
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Volonté YA, Vallese-Maurizi H, Dibo MJ, Ayala-Peña VB, Garelli A, Zanetti SR, Turpaud A, Craft CM, Rotstein NP, Politi LE, German OL. A Defective Crosstalk Between Neurons and Müller Glial Cells in the rd1 Retina Impairs the Regenerative Potential of Glial Stem Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:334. [PMID: 31402853 PMCID: PMC6670004 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Müller glial cells (MGC) are stem cells in the retina. Although their regenerative capacity is very low in mammals, the use of MGC as stem cells to regenerate photoreceptors (PHRs) during retina degenerations, such as in retinitis pigmentosa, is being intensely studied. Changes affecting PHRs in diseased retinas have been thoroughly investigated; however, whether MGC are also affected is still unclear. We here investigated whether MGC in retinal degeneration 1 (rd1) mouse, an animal model of retinitis pigmentosa, have impaired stem cell properties or structure. rd1 MGC showed an altered morphology, both in culture and in the whole retina. Using mixed neuron-glial cultures obtained from newborn mice retinas, we determined that proliferation was significantly lower in rd1 than in wild type (wt) MGC. Levels of stem cell markers, such as Nestin and Sox2, were also markedly reduced in rd1 MGC compared to wt MGC in neuron-glial cultures and in retina cryosections, even before the onset of PHR degeneration. We then investigated whether neuron-glial crosstalk was involved in these changes. Noteworthy, Nestin expression was restored in rd1 MGC in co-culture with wt neurons. Conversely, Nestin expression decreased in wt MGC in co-culture with rd1 neurons, as occurred in rd1 MGC in rd1 neuron-glial mixed cultures. These results imply that MGC proliferation and stem cell markers are reduced in rd1 retinas and might be restored by their interaction with “healthy” PHRs, suggesting that alterations in rd1 PHRs lead to a disruption in neuron-glial crosstalk affecting the regenerative potential of MGC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanel A Volonté
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur - National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Harmonie Vallese-Maurizi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur - National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Marcos J Dibo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur - National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Victoria B Ayala-Peña
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur - National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Andrés Garelli
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur - National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Samanta R Zanetti
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur - National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Axel Turpaud
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur - National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Cheryl Mae Craft
- Department of Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Nora P Rotstein
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur - National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Luis E Politi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur - National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Olga L German
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur - National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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McGinn TE, Galicia CA, Leoni DC, Partington N, Mitchell DM, Stenkamp DL. Rewiring the Regenerated Zebrafish Retina: Reemergence of Bipolar Neurons and Cone-Bipolar Circuitry Following an Inner Retinal Lesion. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:95. [PMID: 31245369 PMCID: PMC6562337 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously reported strikingly normal morphologies and functional connectivities of regenerated retinal bipolar neurons (BPs) in zebrafish retinas sampled 60 days after a ouabain-mediated lesion of inner retinal neurons (60 DPI) (McGinn et al., 2018). Here we report early steps in the birth of BPs and formation of their dendritic trees and axonal arbors during regeneration. Adult zebrafish were subjected to ouabain-mediated lesion that destroys inner retinal neurons but spares photoreceptors and Müller glia, and were sampled at 13, 17, and 21 DPI, a timeframe over which plexiform layers reemerge. We show that this timeframe corresponds to reemergence of two populations of BPs (PKCα+ and nyx::mYFP+). Sequential BrdU, EdU incorporation reveals that similar fractions of PKCα+ BPs and HuC/D+ amacrine/ganglion cells are regenerated concurrently, suggesting that the sequence of neuronal production during retinal regeneration does not strictly match that observed during embryonic development. Further, accumulation of regenerated BPs appears protracted, at least through 21 DPI. The existence of isolated, nyx::mYFP+ BPs allowed examination of cytological detail through confocal microscopy, image tracing, morphometric analyses, identification of cone synaptic contacts, and rendering/visualization. Apically-projecting neurites (=dendrites) of regenerated BPs sampled at 13, 17, and 21 DPI are either truncated, or display smaller dendritic trees when compared to controls. In cases where BP dendrites reach the outer plexiform layer (OPL), numbers of dendritic tips are similar to those of controls at all sampling times. Further, by 13-17 DPI, BPs with dendritic tips reaching the outer nuclear layer (ONL) show patterns of photoreceptor connections that are statistically indistinguishable from controls, while those sampled at 21 DPI slightly favor contacts with double cone synaptic terminals over those of blue-sensitive cones. These findings suggest that once regenerated BP dendrites reach the OPL, normal photoreceptor connectomes are established, albeit with some plasticity. Through 17 DPI, some basally-projecting neurites (=axons) of regenerated nyx::mYFP+ BPs traverse long distances, branch into inappropriate layers, or appear to abruptly terminate. These findings suggest that, after a tissue-disrupting lesion, regeneration of inner retinal neurons is a dynamic process that includes ongoing genesis of new neurons and changes in BP morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy E McGinn
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
| | - Carlos A Galicia
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
| | - Dylan C Leoni
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
| | - Natalie Partington
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, ID, United States
| | - Diana M Mitchell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
| | - Deborah L Stenkamp
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
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