The long-range objective of the proposed research is to determine the cellular and molecular developmental events that lead to the differentiation of specific cell types in the vertebrate retina. The immediate experimental approach toward this goal is to focus on the role of hh genes in retinal development in teleost fish.
Five specific aims are proposed: (1) to characterize the spatiotemporal expression of hh genes in the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) of zebrafish; (2) to experimentally reduce expression of hh genes in the RPE of embryonic zebrafish and examine the effects on retinal cell differentiation and patterning; (3) to create sites of precocious and/or ectopic hh expression in the zebrafish eye and examine the effects on retinal cell differentiation and patterning; (4) to examine specific effects of hh protein on rod photoreceptor production in the retina of adult goldfish; and (5) to identify retinal cell types that receive the hh signal by localizing expression of the hh receptor. The proposed research program emphasizes potential involvement of hh gene expression in the process of rod photoreceptor development. A loss of rod photoreceptors is a primary event in a number of hereditary retinal degenerations; the study of genes that may be involved in rod production may ultimately lead to the development of strategies for rod replacement therapy in humans.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29EY012146-02
Application #
2888608
Study Section
Visual Sciences C Study Section (VISC)
Project Start
1998-06-01
Project End
2003-05-31
Budget Start
1999-06-01
Budget End
2000-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Idaho
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Moscow
State
ID
Country
United States
Zip Code
83844
Nelson, Steve M; Frey, Ruth A; Wardwell, Sheri L et al. (2008) The developmental sequence of gene expression within the rod photoreceptor lineage in embryonic zebrafish. Dev Dyn 237:2903-17
Stenkamp, D L; Frey, R A; Prabhudesai, S N et al. (2000) Function for Hedgehog genes in zebrafish retinal development. Dev Biol 220:238-52