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Identification of the cellular source of laminin β2 in adult and developing vertebrate retinae
Author(s) -
Libby Richard T.,
Xu Yin,
Selfors Laura M.,
Brunken William J.,
Hunter Dale D.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9861(19971229)389:4<655::aid-cne8>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - biology , neuroepithelial cell , laminin , microbiology and biotechnology , retina , extracellular matrix , anatomy , neuroscience , stem cell , neural stem cell
The interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM) is a specialized extracellular matrix that surrounds the inner and outer segments of photoreceptors. This matrix contains molecules that may be important in directing photoreceptor differentiation and survival. For example, one molecule that we have previously identified as a component of the IPM, laminin β2 (formerly known as s‐laminin), is implicated in the differentiation of rod photoreceptor cells. Developmentally, laminin β2 is present before rod birth in a position that is consistent with a role in directing rod differentiation; it is found, in both the rat and skate, in the ventricular space that ultimately becomes the IPM. In this study, we identify the source of laminin β2 in the adult and developing retina. Both immunohistochemistry in the adult skate retina and in situ hybridizations in the adult rat retina reveal that laminin β2 is produced by Müller cells. In addition, in the skate but not the rat retina, retinal pigment epithelial cells may be an alternative source of laminin β2. During development, however, laminin β2 is present before the birth of Müller glial cells; at this stage of development, laminin β2 RNA is present within the neuroepithelial layer in a pattern that is consistent with its production by neuroepithelial cells. J. Comp. Neurol. 389:655–667, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.