Nestin is essential for zebrafish brain and eye development through control of progenitor cell apoptosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Nestin is expressed in neural progenitor cells (NPC) of developing brain. Despite its wide use as an NPC marker, the function of nestin in embryo development is unclear.

Methodology/principal findings

As nestin is conserved in zebrafish and its predicted sequence is clustered with the mammalian nestin orthologue, we used zebrafish as a model to investigate its role in embryogenesis. Injection of nestin morpholino (MO) into fertilized eggs induced time- and dose-dependent brain and eye developmental defects. Nestin morphants exhibited characteristic morphological changes including small head, small eyes and hydrocephalus. Histological examinations show reduced hind- and mid-brain size, dilated ventricle, poorly organized retina and underdeveloped lens. Injection of

SUBMITTER: Chen HL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2824827 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature