Distribution of short-wavelength-sensitive cones in human fetal and postnatal retina: early development of spatial order and density profiles

• Published in: Vision research (Oxford) Vol. 44; no. 17; pp. 2019 - 2026
• Main Authors: Cornish, Elisa E, Hendrickson, Anita E, Provis, Jan M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2004; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Count; Cones; Development; Development. Senescence. Regeneration. Transplantation; Displacement; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Fovea Centralis - cytology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gestational Age; Humans; Immunohistochemistry - methods; Infant; Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells - cytology; Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells - embryology; Spatial distribution; Spatial order; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Development; Spatial order; Spatial distribution; Cones; Displacement; Human; Cone; Photoreceptor; Retina; Density; Wavelength; Short wave; Eye; Visual system; Adult; Fetus; Developmental stage; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0042-6989; 1878-5646
• DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2004.03.030

We analysed spatial density and distribution of short-wavelength-sensitive photoreceptors (S-cones) in developing and adult human retinae using antibody against short-wavelength-sensitive opsin. Statistical tests indicate that before 20 weeks of gestation (WG) the S-cone mosaic is not distinguishable from a random distribution, but by 20 WG is significantly different from a random distribution in the perifoveal region, as reported previously for adult retina. Changes in spatial density during development are consistent with displacement of the photoreceptor population towards the incipient fovea so that prior to 20 WG, peak S-cone density is >1.7 mm from the fovea, but is within 800 μm of the fovea by 20 WG.