Distribution of caveolin isoforms in the lemur retina

Abstract

The distribution of caveolin isoforms was previously evaluated in the retinas of different species, but has not yet been described in the primate retina. In this study, the distribution of caveolins was assessed via immunochemistry using isoform-specific antibodies in the retina of the black-and-white ruffed lemur. Here, we report the presence of a variety of caveolin isoforms in many layers of the lemur retina. As normal human retinas were not available for research and the retinas of primates are fairly similar to those of humans, the lemur retina can be utilized as a model for caveolin distribution in normal humans.

Fig. 1

Immunocytochemistry analysis of caveolin-1, -2 and -3 in the lemur retina. Samples were obtained from different anatomical sites of the retina following the radial plane from the central to the peripheral retina. Alexa Fluor 488 was used to detect caveolins (green, arrows). The cytoskeleton and the nuclei were marked with Alexa Fluor 594 labelled phalloidin (red) and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (blue), respectively. Merged images are shown. Caveolin-1 was observed in all layers with the same density among the layers at the macular region and the periphery. At the ciliary body, caveolin-1 stained both layers. Hardly any caveolin-2 signals were observed, and were detected only in the vascular cells of the central portion and the peripheral region. No signs were observed in the ciliary body. Caveolin-3 was present in all layers. OS: outer segments, IS: inner segments, ONL: outer nuclear layer, OPL: outer plexiform layer, INL: inner nuclear layer, IPL: inner plexiform layer, GL: ganglion layer, OL: outer layer, IL: inner layer, BV: blood vessel, bar = 10 µm.