Differential expression of syntaxin-1 and synaptophysin in the developing and adult human retina

Journal of biosciences

Shashi Wadhwa1¹  T C Nag¹ 

[1] syntaxin-1 appears in parallel with synapse formation;$$

关键词: Development;    human retina;    immunohistochemistry;    synaptogenesis;    synaptophysin;    syntaxin-1;   

DOI  :  

来源: Indian Academy of Sciences

【 摘 要 】

Synaptophysin and syntaxin-1 are membrane proteins that associate with synaptic vesicles and presynaptic active zones at nerve endings, respectively. The former is known to be a good marker of synaptogenesis; this aspect, however, is not clear with syntaxin-1. In this study, the expression of both proteins was examined in the developing human retina and compared with their distribution in postnatal to adult retinas, by immunohistochemistry. In the inner plexiform layer, both were expressed simultaneously at 11–12 weeks of gestation, when synaptogenesis reportedly begins in the central retina. In the outer plexiform layer, however, the immunoreactivities were prominent by 16 weeks of gestation. Their expression in both plexiform layers followed a centre-to-periphery gradient. The immunoreactivities for both proteins were found in the immature photoreceptor, amacrine and ganglion cells; however, synaptophysin was differentially localized in bipolar cells and their axons, and syntaxin was present in some horizontal cells. In postnatal-to-adult retinas, synaptophysin immunoreactivity was prominent in photo-receptor terminals lying in the outer plexiform layer; on the contrary, syntaxin-1 was present in a thin immunoreactive band in this layer. In the inner plexiform layer, however, both were homogeneously distributed. Our study suggests thatsyntaxin-1 appears in parallel with synapse formation;

【 授权许可】

Unknown