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Thesis
Determining the Role of miR-155 in Retinal Regeneration and Development in Zebrafish
University of West Florida Libraries
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2023
Abstract
Retinal diseases in humans are often debilitating and a known public health threat. The retina, crucial for vision, is a specialized central nervous system tissue used to relay visual information to the brain. Unfortunately, damage to photoreceptors is permanent in humans. In contrast, zebrafish (Danio rerio) are model organisms than can regenerate photoreceptors following injury. MicroRNAs are non-coding RNAs that affect expression of mature messenger RNA from other genes. Studying the expression of microRNAs during development and/or in response to retinal damage may help determine important functional roles. The expression of the microRNA miR-155 is found in the immune system but has not been thoroughly studied in the regenerating retina. In this study, the expression and localization of the zebrafish miR-155 was investigated in the developing retina and regenerating retina. In situ hybridization and immunolabeling revealed that miR-155 is expressed in the embryonic retina at 48 hpf and expressed at 2 and 3 dpl in the MG and MG-derived progenitors of adults. RT-qPCR shows that miR-155 is elevated at 3 and 5 dpl and decreased at 7 dpl. Knockdown of miR-155 shows fewer proliferating cells at 48 hpf, and a decrease of mature rod and cone photoreceptors at 72 hpf, showing that miR-155 is required for normal progenitor cell proliferation and photoreceptor development. Knockdown in the adult retina shows a decrease of the number of cells in the INL, suggesting that with data from the in situ hybridization, miR-155 is required for normal proliferation of MG-derived progenitors.
Details
- Title
- Determining the Role of miR-155 in Retinal Regeneration and Development in Zebrafish
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Contributors
- Scott M Taylor (Committee Chair)Lisa A Waidner (Committee Member)Peter Cavnar (Committee Member)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 53
- Copyright
- Permission granted to the University of West Florida Libraries by the author to digitize and/or display this information for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires the permission of the copyright holder.
- Identifiers
- 99380461596106600
- Academic Unit
- Biology; Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida