Conditioned medium-mediated photoreceptor differentiation in retina from embryonic rd chickens
Spoerri, P.E.; Kelley, K.C.; Allen, C.B.; Ulshafer, R.J.
European Journal of Cell Biology 44(1): 105-111
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0171-9335 PMID: 3622531 Document Number: 287288
Retina cells from 8-day rd (retinal degenerate) chicken embryos were cultured in media supplemented with optic lobe conditioned medium (OLCM). The morphogenesis of rd photoreceptors is being described. Several differentiating photoreceptors depicted a membranous sac protruding from the apical end of the cell as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Such structures were found mostly in 8-day-old cultures supplemented with OLCM and were absent in controls. They resembled rudimentary outer segments emanating from a cilium at the apical inner segments. TEM showed a few stacks of free floating disks within the membranous structure which was suggestive of a rudimentary outer segment development. The possible neurotrophic effect of OLCM on rd retina photoreceptor differentiation is being suggested.