To access this work you must either be on the Smith College campus OR have valid Smith login credentials.

On Campus users: To access this work if you are on campus please Select the Download button.

Off Campus users: To access this work from off campus, please select the Off-Campus button and enter your Smith username and password when prompted.

Non-Smith users: You may request this item through Interlibrary Loan at your own library.

Publication Date

2024-5

First Advisor

Sharon Owino

Document Type

Honors Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Neuroscience

Keywords

Zebrafish, GPCR, GPR37, retina, Müller glia

Abstract

Müller glia are a unique type of glial cell in the eye that mediate diverse physiological functions. In the teleost but not mammals, they become multipotent progenitors in response to injury. Scientists are endeavoring to utilize teleosts’ regeneration ability to aid individuals with retinal injuries. GPR37, an orphan G protein-coupled receptor, is highly expressed in retinal Müller glia and brain oligodendrocytes. Although GPR37 may downregulate oligodendrocyte maturation, its roles in the retina are unknown. GPR37 has been shown to be a positive regulator of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, which regulates aspects of eye development and regeneration. We therefore hypothesize that Gpr37 is essential for both the development and regeneration of the retina in zebrafish. We examined the expression of the paralogs gpr37a and gpr37b during zebrafish's early development. Both gpr37a and gpr37b are expressed in discrete patterns in the developing zebrafish: gpr37a is almost exclusively expressed in Gfap+ Müller glia within the inner nuclear layer (INL) of the retina; in contrast, gpr37b shows high expression in distinct layers of the retina as well as in the forebrain and olfactory bulb. To test whether Gpr37 may play a role in regulating retinal regeneration, we examined Gpr37’s expression following light-induced retinal injury. Interestingly, some gpr37a-expressing cells dispersed from the INL into the photoreceptor layer. Efforts to produce a gpr37a promoter knockout zebrafish line are underway. Lastly, to contrast the role of GPR37 in regeneration-incompetent mammals, we are characterizing the healthy and injured retina of GPR37 -/- mice. Our preliminary observations suggest that loss of GPR37 reduces WNT signaling and increases MAPK activities. Considering GPR37 has been shown to be neuroprotective and regulates gliosis during CNS injury, GPR37’s potential role in Müller glia-mediated injury repair may provide exciting insights into regenerative medicine.

Rights

©2024 Yuqi Wang. Access limited to the Smith College community and other researchers while on campus. Smith College community members also may access from off-campus using a Smith College log-in. Other off-campus researchers may request a copy through Interlibrary Loan for personal use.

Language

English

Comments

61 pages: color illustrations. Includes bibliographical references (pages 56-61).

Download

Smith Only:
Off Campus Download

Share

COinS