Temporal and Spatial Localization of Autophagy in the Developing Retina

Abstract

Purpose: : Autophagy has been identified to play a role in development of retinal vascular structure. However, little is known about when and where autophagy occurs in organized retinal tissues during development. This was to investigate the temporal and spatial localization of autophagy in the developing retina.

Methods: : On post-natal (P) P4, P8, P12, P16 and P56 of C57BL/6J mice, the eyes were enucleated. Immunohistochemistry for LC3 and collagen type IV was performed on cross-sections of the retina, and 4'-6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole staining was used to detect nuclear division. LC3 positive cells were quantified by counting immune-reactive cells.

Results: : On P4, autophagy was found in the superficial layer of the central retina. Then on P8, immune-reactive cells for autophagy were observed in the intermediate layer of the central retina. On P12, autophagy occurred in the intermediate layer of the central retina, and in the superficial layer of the peripheral retina. On P16, autophagy was observed in the deep intermediate layer of the central retina, and in the superficial intermediate layer of the peripheral retina.

Conclusions: : Our data suggests that autophagy sporadically occurs all over the retina throughout the development and may be closely related to the retinal vascular development.

Keywords: retinal development • apoptosis/cell death