Knock-down of GFRalpha4 expression by RNA interference affects the development of retinal cell types in three-dimensional histiotypic retinal spheres.

Purpose: To determine the role of glial cell line-derived neurotropic factor family receptor alpha 4 (GFRalpha4) during retinogenesis in a three-dimensional histiotypic in vitro model of the embryonic chicken retina.

Methods: Retinal spheres were cultured from dissociated 6-day-old chicken retina under permanent rotation and transfected with GFRalpha4 siRNA at culture day 2. Alterations on proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation were determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry after 24, 48, and 72 hours.