Cell-Autonomous Requirement for Rx Function in the Mammalian Retina

Abstract

Purpose: : Rx is a paired-like homeobox gene that is required for vertebrate eye formation. Mice lacking Rx function do not develop eyes and the posterior pituitary. In this study we investigated whether Rx function is required cell autonomously for the formation of the mammalian retina.

Methods: : To determine whether Rx function is required cell autonomously during the development of the mouse retina, we generated embryonic chimeras consisting of wild type and Rx-/- cells. In these chimeras, we investigated whether Rx-deficient cells can contribute to retinal formation in the presence of wild type cells.

Results: : We found that Rx-/- cells do not participate in the formation of the retina in chimeric embryos. Interestingly, Rx-/- and wild type cells segregate before the morphogenesis of the retina begins.

Conclusions: : Our observations suggest that Rx function is not only required for the morphogenesis of the retina, but also prior to its morphogenesis, for the sorting out of cells to form a distinct field of retinal progenitor cells.

Keywords: retinal development • gene/expression