Neurensin-1 expression in the mouse retina during postnatal development and in the cultured retinal neurons

Neurensin-1/Neuro-p24 (previously named Neuro-p24) is a neuron-specific membrane protein that is localized particularly in neurites. Neurensin-1 is considered to play an essential role in neurite extension during nervous development, regeneration and plasticity. To understand what role Neurensin-1 plays in retinal differentiation, we examined Neurensin-1 distribution and gene expression pattern in the postnatally developing retina of the mouse, because the retina is an excellent model for nervous development. In the postnatal day (PD) 1 retina, intense Neurensin-1 immunoreactivity was found in the optic nerve fiber layer. Faint staining was seen in the ganglion cells, presumptive amacrine and horizontal cells. As the postnatal development proceeded, the optic fibers became more intensely stained in addition to other parts of the retina such as the ganglion cells, inner plexiform layer and horizontal cells. In PD 10 retinas, the horizontal cell processes showed a prominently stained configuration. As the retina developed further to attain maturity, the staining in the retina became less pronounced, although the optic nerves remained positively stained. The distribution of Neurensin-1 mRNA was consistent with these results and confirmed that the ganglion, amacrine and horizontal cells actively synthesize Neurensin-1 in the developing retina. In the retinal cell culture from newborn mice, two types of neural cells were stained for Neurensin-1, one of which showed long processes and appeared presumptive ganglion cells. These results suggest that Neurensin-1 plays a role in the fiber extension of the retinal neurons, as has been observed in other central nervous tissues, and indicate that the developing retina is a suitable experimental model for the analysis of Neurensin function, both in vivo and in vitro.