Responses of Muller glia to retinal injury in adult zebrafish

in an effort to identify the cellular events that enable neuronal regeneration in the vertebrate retina, the identity and characteristics of mitotic and apoptotic cells were examined in lesioned retinas of adult zebrafish. Following lesion a complex spatiotemporal pattern of mitosis was observed, including a delayed entry of Muller glia into the cell cycle. Characteristics of these proliferative Muller glia indicated they might serve as a stem/precursor cell of regenerated retina. The results suggested a model of retinal regeneration in which lesions are filled, in part, by a localized en place cytogenesis within intact retina surrounding the lesion site. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.