Apoptosis in the developing visual system (original) (raw)
Abstract
Programed cellular death is a widespread phenomenon during development of the nervous system. Two classes of molecules are particularly important in the context of apoptosis control in the nervous system: intracellular effectors homologous to the Caenorhabditis elegans Ced-3, -4, and -9 proteins, which in mammals correspond to the proteases of the caspase family, Apaf-1, and the members of the Bcl-2 protein family, and neurotrophic factors. Retinal ganglion cells lend a convenient model system with which to investigate apoptosis in central neurons during development as well as after injury. In this review, we discuss the role of these molecules in the control of programed cellular death in the retinotectal system. Transgenic animal models and expression studies have shown that caspases, Bcl-2, Bax, and possibly Bcl-X are necessary players for the control of programed cellular death in retinal ganglion cells. Bax and caspase 3 expression in retinal ganglion cells is upregulated after injury, and inhibition of Bax or caspase 3 increases the survival of injured retinal ganglion cells. Neurotrophins can support the survival of injured retinal ganglion cells, but this effect is transient. The physiological role of neurotrophins in the development of the retinocollicular system seems more related to the topographic refinement of retinocollicular projections, a process that is mediated, at least partially, by selective elimination of retinal ganglion cells making inappropriate topographic projections.
Access this article
Subscribe and save
- Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
- Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
- Cancel anytime View plans
Buy Now
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.
Instant access to the full article PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
- Istituto di Neurofisiologia del CNR, via S. Zeno 51, Pisa, I-56127, Italy
Alessandro Cellerino - Department of Neurology, University of Tübingen Medical School, Hoppe-Seyler Str. 3, Tübingen, D-72076, Germany
Mathias Bähr & Stefan Isenmann
Authors
- Alessandro Cellerino
- Mathias Bähr
- Stefan Isenmann
Additional information
Electronic Publication
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cellerino, A., Bähr, M. & Isenmann, S. Apoptosis in the developing visual system.Cell Tissue Res 301, 53–69 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004410000178
- Received: 11 October 1999
- Accepted: 11 January 2000
- Published: 23 March 2000
- Issue date: July 2000
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004410000178