PUBLICATION

Cone Survival Despite Rod Degeneration in XOPS-mCFP Transgenic Zebrafish

Authors
Morris, A.C., Schroeter, E.H., Bilotta, J., Wong, R.O., and Fadool, J.M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-051128-8
Date
2005
Source
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science   46(12): 4762-4771 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Bilotta, Joe, Fadool, James M., Schroeter, Eric H., Wong, Rachel
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics*
  • Retinal Degeneration/genetics*
  • Retinal Degeneration/metabolism
  • Retinal Degeneration/pathology
  • Cell Survival/physiology
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Transgenes
  • Rhodopsin/genetics*
  • In Situ Nick-End Labeling
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells/metabolism
  • Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells/pathology*
  • Plasmids
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Electroretinography
  • Apoptosis
  • Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells/cytology*
  • Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells/physiology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
(all 23)
PubMed
16303977 Full text @ Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.
Abstract
PURPOSE: In animal models of retinitis pigmentosa, rod photoreceptor degeneration eventually leads to loss of cone photoreceptors. The purpose of this study was to characterize a transgenic model of rod degeneration in zebrafish. METHODS: Zebrafish transgenic for XOPS-mCFP, a membrane-targeted form of cyan fluorescent protein driven by the Xenopus rhodopsin promoter, were generated by plasmid injection. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect cell type, proliferation, and TUNEL markers in larval and adult retinas. Rod- and cone-specific transcripts were detected by RT-PCR. Visual responses in transgenic adults were measured by electroretinogram. RESULTS: The XOPS promoter directed specific expression of mCFP in rods by 55 hours post fertilization (hpf). Rods in XOPS-mCFP heterozygotes began dying at 3.5 days post fertilization (dpf) and were almost completely absent by 5 dpf. A few rods were observed at the retinal margin, and numerous immature rods were observed in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) of transgenic adults. Apoptosis was increased in the ONL of larval and adult transgenic animals, and an elevation of rod precursor proliferation in adults was observed. ERG analysis confirmed that rod responses were absent in this line. Cone morphology and electrophysiology appeared normal in transgenic animals up to 7 months of age. CONCLUSIONS: The XOPS-mCFP transgene causes selective degeneration of rods without secondary loss of cones in animals up to 7 months of age. This raises important questions about the significance of rod-cone interactions in zebrafish and their potential as a model of human inherited retinal degenerations.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
No data available
Mutations / Transgenics
Allele Construct Type Affected Genomic Region
q13TgTransgenic Insertion
    1 - 1 of 1
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    Human Disease / Model
    Sequence Targeting Reagents
    Fish
    Antibodies
    Orthology
    Engineered Foreign Genes
    Marker Marker Type Name
    CFPEFGCFP
    1 - 1 of 1
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    Mapping
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    Citation
    Morris, A.C., Schroeter, E.H., Bilotta, J., Wong, R.O., and Fadool, J.M. (2005) Cone Survival Despite Rod Degeneration in XOPS-mCFP Transgenic Zebrafish. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 46(12):4762-4771.