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Extraretinal and retinal hedgehog signaling sequentially regulate retinal differentiation in zebrafish
Deborah L Stenkamp1, Ruth A Frey
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-3051, USA. dtenkam@uidaho.edu
Developmental Biology
|June 12, 2003
Summary
Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is crucial for zebrafish eye development. Extraretinal Hh signals initiate retinal differentiation, while Hh from ganglion cells and the retinal pigmented epithelium regulate specific cell types.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
Background:
- Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is essential for vertebrate eye development.
- Known roles in zebrafish include regulating eye morphogenesis, ganglion cell, and photoreceptor differentiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To dissect the distinct roles of Hh signaling from specific sources during zebrafish eye development.
- To investigate the temporal and spatial requirements of Hh signaling pathways.
Main Methods:
- Temporally selective Hh signaling knockdown using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides and cyclopamine.
- Analysis of zebrafish slow muscle-omitted (smu) mutants lacking functional smoothened.
Main Results:
- Extraretinal Hh signaling is required for initiating retinal differentiation, potentially independent of optic stalk development.
- Hh signals from ganglion cells propagate ath5 expression.
- Hh signals from the retinal pigmented epithelium may mediate photoreceptor differentiation via the transcription factor rx1.
Conclusions:
- Hh signaling plays multifaceted roles in zebrafish eye development, originating from distinct cellular sources.
- Specific Hh signaling pathways are critical for initiating retinal differentiation and regulating the development of specific retinal cell types.