ABSTRACT
Retinal Cells ................................................................................. 313 13.3.3 Retroviral-Mediated Transfection of Retinal Cells ..................... 313 13.3.4 In Vivo Transgenic Mouse Models .............................................. 315 13.3.5 Methods to Analyze the Effect of the Hh Pathway ..................... 316
References .............................................................................................................. 319
A major area in eye development research is the identification of genetic pathways that regulate eye morphogenesis. The Hedgehog (Hh) family of signaling molecules is among the cell-extrinsic factors that govern retinal development. The Hh pathway exhibits a remarkable degree of interspecies conservation and is crucial for eye development in species as diverse as fly, fish, and rodents. Extraretinal Hh secreted from the ventral midline plays a pivotal role in regulating eye morphogenesis. Neuron-derived Hh signals endogenous to the retina function as short-range signals that exert local effects on retinal progenitor cells, as well as extraretinal effects on axon guidance and optic nerve development. In this chapter we overview the function of the Hh signaling pathway in eye development.
