Extrinsic polarity cues control lamination versus cluster-based organization in vertebrate retinal development
Christina Schlagheck1,2,3, Xenia Podlipensky1, Cassian Afting1,2,3
1Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
Iscience
|May 6, 2026
Summary
Investigating retinal development in medaka organoids, this study reveals that epithelial polarity is crucial for forming laminated retinas. Disrupting polarity leads to retinal cell clusters, highlighting developmental plasticity.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Neuroscience
- Cell biology
Background:
- Metazoans utilize diverse retinal architectures for environmental sensing.
- Vertebrate retinas exhibit a laminated structure, contrasting with invertebrate retinal clusters.
- The role of epithelial polarity in vertebrate retinal lamination is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of epithelial polarity on vertebrate retinal architecture.
- To explore the plasticity of retinal development using organoid models.
Main Methods:
- Utilized medaka (Oryzias latipes) retinal organoids for experimental manipulation.
- Modulated apico-basal cues and laminin signaling to assess effects on retinal organization.
- Observed morphological changes in retinal epithelia and cell clustering.
Main Results:
- Continuous apico-basal cues promote the formation of laminated retinal epithelia.
- Loss of polarity cues induces horizontally organized retinal cell clusters (retinal columns).
- Laminin addition restored lamination in clustered architectures.
Conclusions:
- Epithelial polarity plays a critical role in vertebrate retinal lamination.
- Vertebrate retinal development exhibits unexpected plasticity.
- Absence of extrinsic polarity signals can lead to an alternative mode of retinal patterning.
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