seizure-related gene 6 (sez-6) in amacrine cells of the rodent retina and the consequence of gene deletionseizure-related基因6(sez-6)在啮齿动物视网膜的无长突细胞和基因缺失的结果.pdfVIP

Seizure-Related Gene 6 (Sez-6) in Amacrine Cells of the Rodent Retina and the Consequence of Gene Deletion 1 1 2 1 2 Jenny M. Gunnersen *, Annabel Kuek , Joanna A. Phipps , Vicki E. Hammond , Theresa Puthussery , Erica L. Fletcher2, Seong-Seng Tan1 1 Brain Development, Howard Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia, 2 Department of Anatomy Cell Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia Abstract Background: Seizure-related gene 6 (Sez-6) is expressed in neurons of the mouse brain, retina and spinal cord. In the cortex, Sez-6 plays a role in specifying dendritic branching patterns and excitatory synapse numbers during development. Methodology/Principal Findings: The distribution pattern of Sez-6 in the retina was studied using a polyclonal antibody that detects the multiple isoforms of Sez-6. Prominent immunostaining was detected in GABAergic, but not in AII glycinergic, amacrine cell subpopulations of the rat and mouse retina. Amacrine cell somata displayed a distinct staining pattern with the Sez-6 antibody: a discrete, often roughly triangular-shaped bright spot positioned between the nucleus and the apical dendrite superimposed over weaker general cytoplasmic staining. Displaced amacrines in the ganglion cell layer were also positive for Sez-6 and weaker staining was occasionally observed in neurons with the morphology of alpha ganglion cells. Two distinct Sez-6 positive strata were present in the inner plexiform layer in addition to generalized punctate staining. Certain inner nuclear layer cells, including bipolar cells, stained more weakly and diffusely than amacrine cells, although some bipolar cells exhibited a