Müller glia and phagocytosis of cell debris in retinal tissue.

Müller cells are the predominant glial cell type in the retina of vertebrates. They play a wide variety of roles in both the developing and the mature retina that have been widely reported in the literature. However, less attention has been paid to their role in phagocytosis of cell debris under physiological, pathological or experimental conditions.

Expression and function of the LIM-homeodomain transcription factor Islet-1 in the developing and mature vertebrate retina.

The LIM-homeodomain transcription factor Islet-1 (Isl1) has been widely used as a marker of different subtypes of neurons in the developing and mature retina of vertebrates. During retinal neurogenesis, early Isl1 expression is detected in the nuclei of neuroblasts that give rise to ganglion, amacrine, bipolar, and horizontal cells. In the mature retina, Isl1 expression is restricted to the nuclei of ganglion cells, cholinergic amacrine cells, ON-bipolar cells, and subpopulations of horizontal cells.

Ontogenetic cell death and phagocytosis in the visual system of vertebrates.

Programmed cell death (PCD), together with cell proliferation, cell migration, and cell differentiation, is an essential process during development of the vertebrate nervous system. The visual system has been an excellent model on which to investigate the mechanisms involved in ontogenetic cell death. Several phases of PCD have been reported to occur during visual system ontogeny.

Chronotopographical distribution patterns of cell death and of lectin-positive macrophages/microglial cells during the visual system ontogeny of the small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula.

The patterns of distribution of TUNEL-positive bodies and of lectin-positive phagocytes were investigated in the developing visual system of the small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula, from the optic vesicle stage to adulthood. During early stages of development, TUNEL-staining was mainly found in the protruding dorsal part of the optic cup and in the presumptive optic chiasm. Furthermore, TUNEL-positive bodies were also detected during detachment of the embryonic lens.

Light-induced degeneration and microglial response in the retina of an epibenthonic pigmented teleost: age-dependent photoreceptor susceptibility to cell death.

Constant intense light causes apoptosis of photoreceptors in the retina of albino fish. However, very few studies have been performed on pigmented species. Tench (Tinca tinca) is a teleost inhabiting dimly lit environments that has a predominance of rods within the photoreceptor layer.

Retinal histogenesis and cell differentiation in an elasmobranch species, the small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula.

Here we present a detailed study of the major events in the retinal histogenesis in a slow-developing elasmobranch species, the small-spotted catshark, during embryonic, postnatal and adult stages using classical histological and immunohistological methods, providing a complete neurochemical characterization of retinal cells. We found that the retina of the small-spotted catshark was fully differentiated prior to birth. The major developmental events in retinal cell differentiation occurred during the second third of the embryonic period.

Macrophage and microglia ontogeny in the mouse visual system can be traced by the expression of Cathepsins B and D.

Here, we show a detailed chronotopographical analysis of cathepsin B and D expression during development of the mouse visual system. Both proteases were detected in large rounded/ameboid cells usually located in close relationship with prominent sites of extensive physiological cell death. In concordance with their morphological features and topographical distribution, we demonstrate that expressing cells corresponded with macrophages and microglial precursors.

Eye development and retinal differentiation in an altricial fish species, the senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup 1858).

We describe the major events in the retinogenesis in an altricial fish species, the Senegalese sole. The major developmental events in the sole retina occurred early after hatching (posthatching day 0, P0). Thus, (1) plexiform layers became recognizable at P1.

Cell differentiation in the retina of an epibenthonic teleost, the Tench (Tinca tinca, Linneo 1758).

Here we present a detailed study of the major events in the retinal histogenesis in a freshwater epibenthonic fish species, the Tench (Tinca tinca, Linneo 1758) during embryonic, prolarval, larval, and juvenile stages, using classical histological and immunohistological methods, providing a complete neurochemical characterization of retinal cells. We find a morphologically undifferentiated retina during embryonic stages and even at the hatching stage (postnatal day 0, P0). However, the emergence of the different retinal layers occurs in the first postnatal day (P1).