Neurotrophin receptors expression in the developing mouse retina: an immunohistochemical study

Neurotrophins and their receptors (p75 and Trk family of receptors) play an important role in the survival of different populations of neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system. Expression of p75, TrkA, TrkB and TrkC was examined in mouse retinas by means immunohistochemistry in the postnatal development of normal and rd/rd mice (C57BL/6J). The rd/rd mice suffer a degeneration that causes a massive lost of photoreceptor cells. Results showed immunoreactivity to all three Trk proteins in both normal and rd/rd mice during the first 21 postnatal days, but some variations in intensity and localization were found. p75 immunoreaction was only present in rd/rd mice at the end of the degeneration process. These results could indicate a role of neurotrophins and their receptors in both the postnatal development of mouse retina and the degeneration process of rd/rd mice.