Autoradiographic pattern of 3H-fucose incorporation in the developing mouse retina

Light microscopic autoradiography was used to study the pattern of glycoprotein labeling following intravitreal injection of 3H-fucose in the developing mouse retina. Autoradiograms from three postnatal age groups (7-day, 12-day, and adult) were examined. Distinct labeling patterns were observed in all three age groups which followed the general scheme of incorporation into cell bodies followed by localization in the synaptic layers. Thus, 1 to 2 hr after injection, the label was present in all layers but concentrated within the cell bodies of amacrine, ganglion, and horizontal cells in P7 and P12 animals and amacrine and ganglion cells in the adult animals. In all age groups, the synaptic layers showed increased incorporation compared to nuclear layers and a greater retention of glycoproteins. The major differences noted during development were that the turnover rate of 3H-fucose was faster in 7-day animals than in the P12 or adult animals.