Figure 3

Cell-autonomous regulation of Mitf expression by Vsx2 and Lhx2. (A, B) MITF expression in E12.5 eyes of wild-type and orJ mice. Note the expansion of MITF expression throughout the orJ retina (B) compared to wild type (A). Nonspecific staining occurs along the vitreal edges of the lens and retina, in the developing corneal epithelium and extraocular mesenchyme. See Additional file 1 for the anti-mouse immunoreactivity control. (C-E) EYFP and MITF expression in E12.5 retinas from mutant (C, D) and control (E) chimeras. MITF is detected in Vsx2 ^orJ retinal cells throughout the retina. Expression of MITF by Yfp ⁺ cells in the retina is restricted to the extreme periphery (brackets in D), consistent with wild-type expression patterns. (F, G) LHX2 expression in wild-type and orJ eyes at E12.5. (H) β-galactosidase and MITF expression in E12.5 eyes of orJ mice with conditional inactivation of Lhx2 in the retina by α-Cre. Dashed line demarcates the neural retina from the RPE. Scale bars: 100 μm (A, B, E, F, G, H); 40 μm (right panels in A, B, F, G). Abbreviations: β-gal, β-galactosidase; chim., chimera; CKO, conditional knockout; cntrl., control; EYFP, enhanced yellow fluorescent protein; L, lens; NR, neural retina; RPE, retinal pigmented epithelium.