Meeting Abstract

P1-41   -   Visualization of Eye Development in Annual Killifish Using Whole-mount Immunohistochemistry Rodriguez, C/Z*; Podrabsky, J/E; Portland State University, Portland; Portland State University, Portland czr@pdx.edu

Vertebrate eye development is highly conserved. Current models for eye development have allowed for the understanding of gene expression patterns, but they lack the context of extreme environmental conditions that challenge these fundamental programs. Typical vertebrate life spans can be years versus Austrofundulus limnaeus, annual killifish, having the ability to complete their entire adult lifespan from hatching to senescence and death in weeks. Thus, A. limnaeus is a strong model for age-related macular degeneration (AMD); an irreversible loss of central vision in the outer retina. Annual killifish also experience embryonic diapause; a period of developmental dormancy and metabolic arrest. Developing and diapausing embryos are extremely resistant to environmental stresses such as hypoxia and anoxia that would cause irreparable damage to vital organs, such as the eyes, in other species. Therefore, I hypothesize that embryos of annual killifishes possess molecular and physiological mechanisms that can bolster survival and prevent loss of eye cells when faced with oxygen stress. The first step in evaluating this hypothesis is to characterize eye development in annual killifish and establish them as a viable model to tackle questions relating to eye development and disease. Whole mount immunohistochemistry (IHC) will be used to explore the expression and 3-dimensional localization of proteins critical for eye development and cellular regeneration, including: N-cadherin, Rac, and Ascl-1. Confocal microscopy will be used to generate images of embryos with minimal distortion. Characterizing normal eye development is the first step in this project. Future studies will focus on changes in eye development associated with oxygen stress and identifying potential molecular mechanisms to reduce or delay age-related eye degeneration.