Figure 1

Expression patterns of Pax6 in the developing chicken retina. (A-G) Expression of Pax6 protein during the preneurogenic to neurogenic transition (A-C, G) and subsequent neurogenesis (D-F). (A-C) Immunofluorescent images of E4.5 (HH stage 24) retinas labeled for Pax6 (A), NF145 (B), and the merge of the two (C). White arrowheads in (B, C) indicate the neurogenic wave front. (D-F) Immunohistochemical images of E6.5 (HH stage 30) (D), E7 (HH stage 32) (E), and E12 (HH stage 38) (F) retinas. ac, amacrine cells; bc, bipolar cells; c, central retina; gcl, ganglion cell layer; hc, horizontal cells; inl, inner nuclear layer; ipl, inner plexiform layer; onl, outer nuclear layer; p, peripheral retina; ret, retina; rpe, retinal pigment epithelium; vz, ventricular zone. Scale bars: 100 μm; scale bar in (A) applies to (A-C), and in (D) to (D-F). (G) Quantification of Pax6 protein levels in the preneurogenic and neurogenic regions. E4.5 (HH stage 25) eyes were cut at the equator to separate the central and peripheral portions. Dissociated retinal cells from the two portions were subjected to flow cytometric analyses to quantify Pax6 protein on a per cell basis. A representative cell distribution profile with regard to Pax6 levels is shown on the left. Average Pax6 levels for the central and peripheral retinal cells (N = 3, mean ± standard error) are shown on the right. Green, central; red, peripheral. ***P < 0.001.