Targeted effects of retinoic acid signaling upon photoreceptor development in zebrafish.

ABSTRACT: Retinoic acid (RA) is a signaling molecule important for photoreceptor development in vertebrates. The purpose of this study was to examine the mechanisms of the effects of RA upon developing rod and cone photoreceptors in the embryonic zebrafish. Exposure to exogenous RA increased the number of photoreceptors expressing rod opsin and red cone opsin, and decreased the number of photoreceptors expressing the blue and UV cone opsins, suggesting targeted effects of RA on photoreceptor development. RA exposure also increased opsin expression in individual rods and red cones, but decreased opsin expression in individual blue and UV cones, as indicated by differences in the strength of opsin hybridization in identified photoreceptors. RA exposure did not, however, significantly alter quantitativ

SUBMITTER: Prabhudesai SN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2804901 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature