Expression of Norrin in the Developing Retinal Vasculature

Abstract

Purpose: : To investigate whether Norrin expression is related to the developing retinal vasculature

Methods: : On post-natal (P) P4, P8, P12, P16 and P26 of C57BL/6J mice, the eyes were enucleated. Immunofluorescence double staining for Norrin and collagen type IV as a marker of the vessel was performed on cross-sections of the retina. 4'-6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole staining was used to detect nuclear division.

Results: : From P4, Norrin was first detected at retinal ganglion cell layer (GCL) of the vascularized retina. With sprouting out of retinal vessels, Norrin expression extended out to the periphery. On P16 when retinal vessels reach to the inner plexiform layer (IPL), and the upper and lower limit of inner nuclear layer (INL), Norrin was diffusely expressed in the inner retina including GCL, IPL and INL. Interestingly, Norrin expression was prominent on retinal vessels, which was colocalized with expression of collagen type IV.

Conclusions: : Our data demonstrated that Norrin expression is closely related to the development of retinal vessels, which suggests that Norrin might play some role in the developing retinal vasculature.

Keywords: retina • gene/expression • immunohistochemistry