Publication: ‘Green Mice’ display limitations
in enhanced green fluorescent protein
expression in retina and optic nerve cells
Authors
Caminos, Elena ; Vaquero, Cecilia F. ; García-Olmo, Dolores C.
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Publisher
F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia: Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.14670/HH-29.1601
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
Characterization of retinal cells, cell
transplants and gene therapies may be helped by prelabeled
retinal cells, such as those transfected with
vectors for green fluorescent protein expression. The aim
of this study was to analyze retinal cells and optic nerve
components from transgenic green mice (GM) with the
‘enhanced’ green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene under
the control of the CAG promoter (a chicken β-actin
promoter and a cytomegalovirus enhancer). The
structural analysis and electroretinography recordings
showed a normal, healthy retina. Surprisingly, EGFP
expression was not ubiquitously located in the retina and
optic nerve. Epithelial cells, photoreceptors and bipolar
cells presented high green fluorescence levels. In
contrast, horizontal cells, specific amacrine cells and
ganglion cells exhibited a null EGFP expression level.
The synaptic terminals of rod bipolar cells displayed a
high green fluorescence level when animals were kept in
the dark. Immature retinas exhibited different EGFP
expression patterns to those noted in adults. Axons and
glial cells in the optic nerve revealed a specific regional
EGFP expression pattern, which correlated with the
presence of myelin. These results suggest that EGFP
expression might be related to the activity of both the
CAG promoter and β-actin in mature retinal neurons and
oligodendrocytes. Moreover, EGFP expression might be
regulated by light in both immature and adult animals.
Since GM are used in numerous retina bioassays, it is
essential to know the differential EGFP expression in
order to select cells of interest for each study.
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