Abstract
The ciliary body in the eye secretes aqueous humor and glycoproteins of the vitreous body and maintains the intraocular pressure. The ciliary muscle controls the shape of the lens through the ciliary zonules to focus the image onto the retina. During embryonic development, the ciliary epithelium is derived from the optic vesicle, but the molecular signals that control morphogenesis of the ciliary body are unknown. We report that lens-specific expression of a transgenic protein, Noggin, can block BMP signaling in the mouse eye and result in failure in formation of the ciliary processes. Co-expression of transgenic BMP7 restores normal development of the ciliary epithelium. Ectopic expression of Noggin also promotes differentiation of retinal ganglion cells. These results indicate that BMP signaling is required for development of the ciliary body and may also play a role in regulation of neuronal differentiation in the developing eye.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4
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Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7
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Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / genetics
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Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / metabolism*
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Carrier Proteins
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Ciliary Body / embryology*
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Epithelium / embryology
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Epithelium / metabolism
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Female
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Gene Expression
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Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
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MSX1 Transcription Factor
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred ICR
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Mice, Transgenic
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Otx Transcription Factors
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Proteins / genetics
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Signal Transduction*
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transforming Growth Factor beta*
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Xenopus
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Xenopus Proteins
Substances
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Bmp4 protein, mouse
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Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4
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Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7
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Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
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Carrier Proteins
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Homeodomain Proteins
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MSX1 Transcription Factor
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MSX1 protein, Xenopus
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Otx Transcription Factors
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Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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Transforming Growth Factor beta
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Xenopus Proteins
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bmp4 protein, Xenopus
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bmp7.1 protein, Xenopus
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noggin protein