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A cell atlas of the chick retina based on single-cell transcriptomics

Authors :
Masahito Yamagata
Wenjun Yan
Joshua R Sanes
Source :
eLife, Vol 10 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
eLife Sciences Publications Ltd, 2021.

Abstract

Retinal structure and function have been studied in many vertebrate orders, but molecular characterization has been largely confined to mammals. We used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to generate a cell atlas of the chick retina. We identified 136 cell types plus 14 positional or developmental intermediates distributed among the six classes conserved across vertebrates – photoreceptor, horizontal, bipolar, amacrine, retinal ganglion, and glial cells. To assess morphology of molecularly defined types, we adapted a method for CRISPR-based integration of reporters into selectively expressed genes. For Müller glia, we found that transcriptionally distinct cells were regionally localized along the anterior-posterior, dorsal-ventral, and central-peripheral retinal axes. We also identified immature photoreceptor, horizontal cell, and oligodendrocyte types that persist into late embryonic stages. Finally, we analyzed relationships among chick, mouse, and primate retinal cell classes and types. Our results provide a foundation for anatomical, physiological, evolutionary, and developmental studies of the avian visual system.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2050084X
Volume :
10
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
eLife
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.5d52fcabd5a84d0c90fcfa3f40e1b63a
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.63907