Gene expression and protein localization of calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase during ontogenesis of chick retina.

Calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase (PDE1) is a key enzyme in cyclic nucleotides metabolism. We studied its gene expression and protein localization during retinal development in chick embryos. Western blot and densitometric analysis demonstrated that the expression of the three isoforms changed during development.

Gene expression and protein localization of calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase in adult rat retina.

Calcium calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE1) was identified in crude extract and immunolabeled sections of rat retina. Both cAMP and cGMP PDE activities were stimulated by calcium-calmodulin (4.7-fold and 2.

Long-term treatment of the developing retina with the metabotropic glutamate agonist APB induces long-term changes in the stratification of retinal ganglion cell dendrites.

The gradual restriction of initially multistratified retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dendrites into ON and OFF sublaminae of the inner plexiform layer (IPL) can be effectively blocked by treating the developing retina with 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (APB), the metabotropic glutamate agonist, or by light deprivation. Previous studies have focused on the short-term consequences of such manipulations, so the long-term effects of arresting dendritic stratification on the structural development of RGCs are as yet unknown. In the present study, we have addressed this issue by performing a morphological analysis of alpha RGCs labeled by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase injected into the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of adult cats that received monocular injections of APB from postnatal (P) day 2 until P30.

Spatial organization of displaced ganglion cells in the chick retina.

This study presents a morphological and quantitative analysis of displaced ganglion cells performed in the chick retina at different stages of development (E11, E17, & P2). The lipophilic dye DiI inserted into the optic nerve provided a complete staining of displaced ganglion cell population and of their dendritic trees. From 11 days of incubation (E11) all neurons present a uniform morphology and are unmistakably recognizable by the dimensions of their cell body and by the presence of the axon.