Abstract
Purpose: :
Musashi (MSI), an mRNA binding protein, has been shown to be expressed in neural progenitor cells. (reviewed by Okano et al., 2005) The goal of this study was to determine the expression of MSI in the chick retina, with special emphasis on putative stem cells within the retina.
Methods: :
Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were performed with 14 um sections of E3, E4, E5, E6, E8 and E18 eye using anti–MSI antibody and a MSI specific Digoxigenin–labeled RNA probe.
Results: :
MSI appeared to be expressed in the presumptive amacrine and photoreceptor cells of the developing retina, the ciliary margin zone where stem cell preside, and in the lens epithelium.
Conclusions: :
MSI labels more than stem cells in the chick retina.
Keywords: retinal development • regeneration • retina