Abstract
Purpose: :
Nestin protein has been broadly used as a cell distinguishing marker of neural progenitors in the mammalian nervous system. In the present study, we aimed to examine the nestin immunoexpression and its specific cellular localization with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling for proliferation patterning in the rat neural retina during development.
Methods: :
Sprague-Dawley prenatal and postnatal rats of age, ranging from embryonic day (E) 13 to the young (P) aged 28 days were used in this study. Neurogenesis and differentiation path of the developing retina were analyzed with section preparation using by anti-nestin, anti-PCNA and anti-vimentin immunohistochemistry.
Results: :
Nestin was expressed in the inner margin of the neuroepithelium at E13. With age, nestin immunoreactive cells were elongated to cover the whole proliferating ganglion cell layer by E20. After birth, the immunoreactivity was mainly detected in the inner plexiform layer and nuclear layers. At P7, the nestin immunoexpression was downregulated and restricted into the proximal radial processes of putative Mueller cells and further into the end feet by P14. PCNA was expressed broadly in the neuroepithelium except the putative ganglion cell layer, and in the pigment epithelium. With age, PCNA immunoreactive cells were restricted to the inner half of the neuroblastic layer. At E20, PCNA immunoreactivity was detected in the putative inner nuclear layer and some putative photoreceptor cells. Afterward, PCNA immunoreactivity was vanished. Vimentin was detected in radial processes throughout the developing retina by P7. Vimentin was expressed in the inner margin of neural retina at E13, in the putative ganglion cell layer at E18, extended into the inner one third of the neuroblastic layer as radial glia ar E20, and radial fibers reaching into the inner half of the neuroblastic layer. At P7, vimentin immunoreactivity is restricted into proximal part of the inner retina, and definitely appeared throughout the whole depth of the retina as the profile of Mueller cell at P14. Afterward, the immunoreactivity was restricted into the end feet by P28.
Keywords: retinal development • differentiation