Proneural gene ash1 promotes amacrine cell production in the chick retina

• Published in: Developmental neurobiology (Hoboken, N.J.) Vol. 69; no. 2‐3; pp. 88 - 104
• Main Authors: Mao, Weiming, Yan, Run‐Tao, Wang, Shu‐Zhen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.02.2009
• Subjects: Age Factors; amacrine cells; Amacrine Cells - physiology; Animals; Avian Proteins - genetics; Avian Proteins - metabolism; Bromodeoxyuridine - metabolism; Cell Count; Cell Differentiation - genetics; Chick Embryo; Embryonic Stem Cells - physiology; Eye Proteins - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - physiology; Gene Transfer Techniques; Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Homeodomain Proteins - metabolism; In Situ Nick-End Labeling - methods; Mutation - genetics; Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; neurogenesis; Neurogenesis - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Paired Box Transcription Factors - metabolism; PAX6 Transcription Factor; proneural gene; Repressor Proteins - metabolism; retina; Retina - cytology; Retina - embryology; Retroviridae - genetics; transcription factor; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transcriptional Activation
• ISSN: 1932-8451; 1932-846X
• DOI: 10.1002/dneu.20693

The diverse types of neurons and Müller glia in the vertebrate retina are believed to arise from common progenitor cells. To better understand how neural diversity is achieved during retinal neurogenesis, we examined the function of ash1, a proneural bHLH gene expressed in progenitor cells throughout retinal neurogenesis. Published studies using retinal explant culture derived from knockout mice concluded that ash1 is required for the production of late‐born neurons, including bipolar cells. In this study, gain‐of‐function experiments were carried out in ovo in embryonic chick retina. In the developing chick retina, expression of ash1 temporally overlapped with, but spatially differed from, the expression of ngn2, also a proneural gene expressed in progenitor cells throughout retinal neurogenesis. Retrovirus‐driven overexpression of ash1 in the developing chick retina decreased the progenitor population (BrdU+ or expressing ngn2), expanded the amacrine population (AP2α+ or Pax6+), and reduced bipolar (chx10 mRNA+) and Müller glial (vimentin+) populations. Photoreceptor deficiency occurred after the completion of neurogenesis. The number of ganglion cells, which are born first during retinal neurogenesis, remained unchanged. Similar overexpression of ngn2 did not produce discernible changes in retinal neurogenesis, nor in ash1 expression. These results suggest that ash1 promotes the production of amacrine cells and thus may participate in a regulatory network governing neural diversity in the chick retina. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2009