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Localization patterns of fibroblast growth factor 1 and its receptors FGFR1 and FGFR2 in postnatal mouse retina

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Abstract

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) exert basic functions both during embryonic development and in the adult. The expression of FGFs and their receptors has been reported in mammalian retinas, although information on the organization of the FGF system is still incomplete. Here, we report a detailed double-label immunohistochemical investigation of the localization patterns of FGF1 and its receptors FGFR1 and FGFR2 in adult and early postnatal mouse retinas. In adult retinas, FGF1 is localized to ganglion cells, horizontal cells, and photoreceptor inner and outer segments. FGFR1 is found in ganglion cells and Müller cells, whereas FGFR2 is primarily located in ganglion cells, the nuclei of Müller cells, and glycine-containing amacrine cells. During postnatal development, the patterns of FGF1, FGFR1, and FGFR2 immunostaining are similar to those in the adult, although transient FGF1-expressing cells have been detected in the proximal inner nuclear layer before eye opening. These patterns are consistent with a major involvement of FGF1, FGFR1, and FGFR2 in ganglion cell maturation (during development) and survival (in the adult). Moreover, FGF1 may affect amacrine cell development, whereas Müller cells appear to be regulated via both FGFR1 and FGFR2 throughout postnatal life. In immature retinas, large numbers of amacrine cells, including those containing calbindin and glycine, display both FGF1 and FGFR2 immunoreactivities in their nuclei, suggesting an action of FGF1 on FGFR2 leading to the maturation of these amacrine cells during a restricted period of postnatal development.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. Arlene Hirano (UCLA) for the NK3 antibody, to Dr. David Pow (School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Newcastle, Australia) for the glycine antibody, to Dr. Cristiano Papeschi for animal care, and to Dr. Gabriella Gambellini (Interdepartmental Center of Electron Microscopy, University of Tuscany, Italy) for help with the confocal microscopy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Università della Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, Blocco D, 01100, Viterbo, Italy

    Elisabetta Catalani & Giovanni Casini

  2. Dipartimento di Ecologia e Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile, Università della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy

    Silvia Tomassini & Luigi Bosco

  3. Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Massimo Dal Monte

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  1. Elisabetta Catalani
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  2. Silvia Tomassini
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  3. Massimo Dal Monte
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  4. Luigi Bosco
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  5. Giovanni Casini
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Correspondence to Giovanni Casini.

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This work was supported by funding from the Italian Ministry of Education.

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Catalani, E., Tomassini, S., Dal Monte, M. et al. Localization patterns of fibroblast growth factor 1 and its receptors FGFR1 and FGFR2 in postnatal mouse retina. Cell Tissue Res 336, 423–438 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-009-0787-9

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