PUBLICATION

Stem cells and regeneration in the retina: What fish have taught us about neurogenesis

Authors
Easter, S.S. and Hitchcock, P.F.
ID
ZDB-PUB-010724-2
Date
2000
Source
The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry   6(6): 454-464 (Review)
Registered Authors
Easter, Stephen S., Jr.
Keywords
stem cell, retina, neurogenesis, regeneration, repair, goldfish optic tectum, post-embryonic growth, adult goldfish, shifting terminals, pattern-formation, ganglion-cells, rod precursors, germinal cells, Rana pipiens, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
none
PubMed
none
Abstract
Many species of fish grow for much of their lifetimes and add neurons to the CNS continuously. The retina has proved to be a convenient model in which to study neurogenesis, both the normal variety associated with growth and regeneration in response to a lesion. Initial neurogenesis in the embryonic eye cup begins in a tiny cluster of neuroepithelial cells that steadily enlarges to produce a central disk of neurons. Subsequent growth occurs mainly at the edge of this disk, in the circumferential germinal zone, where the retina adds annuli of new neurons of all varieties except the rod photoreceptors. A few proliferative cells persist to adulthood in central retina and normally produce only rods, but when the retina is damaged, these cells contribute to the production of new neurons of diverse classes. Recent work has revealed two additional populations of dividing cells in central retina; they normally proliferate so slowly that special methods are required to reveal them. We suggest that the three proliferative cell types are related through lineage in a model similar to those described for hematopoiesis, The persistent neurogenesis of fish retina seems to resemble qualitatively the neurogenesis of the mammalian brain, but quantitatively the neurogenesis is much more vigorous in the fish.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping