Photoreceptor development in premetamorphic and metamorphic Xenopus laevis

Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2010 Mar;293(3):383-7. doi: 10.1002/ar.21079.

Abstract

Transgenic Xenopus laevis are commonly used to study gene expression in photoreceptors, but only red rods and red cones are known to exist in the pre-metamorphic stages commonly used in transgenic studies. Using RT-PCR, this study shows that violet cones develop in early pre-metamorphic stages (Stage 35) with the red rods and red cones. Green rod development began in Stage 53 with the onset of metamorphosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / physiology*
  • Metamorphosis, Biological*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / cytology*
  • Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / metabolism
  • Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / cytology*
  • Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Rod Opsins / genetics
  • Rod Opsins / metabolism
  • Xenopus laevis / embryology*

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • Rod Opsins