Cell birth and death in the developing retina of the Brazilian opossum, Monodelphis domestica

• Published in: Brain research Vol. 1195; pp. 28 - 42
• Main Authors: Sakaguchi, Donald S, Hoffelen, Samantha Van, Greenlee, M. Heather W, Harper, Matthew M, Au, Daniel T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier B.V 21.02.2008; Amsterdam Elsevier; New York, NY
• Subjects: Age Factors; Animals; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Birth-dating; Bromodeoxyuridine; Cell Differentiation - physiology; Cell Movement - physiology; Cell Proliferation; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Male; Marsupial; Monodelphis - anatomy & histology; Monodelphis - growth & development; Monodelphis domestica; Neurogenesis; Neurology; Neurons - cytology; Pregnancy; Retina - cytology; Retina - growth & development; Retinal development; Stem cell; Stem Cells - cytology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; BC; IPL; Stem cell; INL; RPE; Central nervous system; diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride; Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUT P nick-end labeling; Bromodeoxyuridine; CNS; Horizontal cells; ONL; Neurogenesis; Retinal pigment epithelium; Immunoreactive; Postnatal; TUNEL; Outer plexiform layer; Marsupial; Inner nuclear layer; Bipolar cells; SNAP-25; AC; Outer nuclear layer; DAB; OS; VAMP; IR; Cytoblast layer; Birth-dating; CbL; Vesicle-associated membrane protein; RGC; GCL; Retinal ganglion cells; Synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kD; 3′,3; Retinal development; Amacrine cells; Outer segments; HC; Inner plexiform layer; PN; BrdU; Ganglion cell layer; Apoptosis; Retina; Eye; Visual system; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Cell death; Marsupialia; Development; Monodelphis domestica
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2007.12.018

Abstract The purpose of this study was to characterize cytogenesis and apoptosis in the developing retina of the Brazilian opossum, Monodelphis domestica. Monodelphis is a small pouchless marsupial whose young undergo a protracted period of postnatal development. Moreover, the Monodelphis retina represents a unique in vivo compartment for investigating cellular interactions that occur during early neural development and is an important system to study plasticity of neural stem cells following transplantation. Using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling of newly generated cells, double-labeling immunohistochemistry and TUNEL labeling of apoptotic cells we have performed a detailed analysis of cell birth and death in the Monodelphis retina from fetal development through early postnatal life. Pregnant opossums or pups received a single injection of BrdU between gestational day 12 and postnatal day 35 (35PN), eyes were collected two hours after injection or on day 15, 30, or 60 of postnatal life. BrdU-labeled cells were visualized immunohistochemically. Cells were classified according to their morphology, location and immunoreactivity for cell-type specific antibodies. Cell genesis in the opossum retina begins at E13 and was near completion by 25PN. Apoptotic retinal cells were identified using the TUNEL technique for labeling of fragmented DNA. Apoptosis covered a relatively broad period of postnatal development, beginning around 10PN, peaking at 30PN, and concluding before 60PN. These results demonstrate that the retina of Monodelphis , a polyprotodont marsupial, is generated in a similar pattern to the wallaby, a diprotodont marsupial, and to eutherian species.