Loss of neuroprotective survival signal in mice lacking insulin receptor gene in rod photoreceptor cells.

ABSTRACT: Insulin receptor (IR) signaling provides a trophic signal for transformed retinal neurons in culture, but the role of IR activity in vivo is unknown. We previously reported that light causes increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the IR in vivo, which leads to the downstream activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase and Akt pathway in rod photoreceptor cells. The functional role of IR in rod photoreceptor cells is not known. We observed that light stress induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the IR in rod photoreceptor cells, and we hypothesized that IR activation is neuroprotective. To determine whether IR has a neuroprotective role on rod photoreceptor cells, we used the Cre/lox system to specifically inactivate the IR gene in rod photoreceptors. Rod-specific IR knock-out mice have reduce

SUBMITTER: Rajala A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2443670 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature