Scaffolding the retina: The interstitial extracellular matrix during rat retinal development

•The discovery of the presence of collagen IV and FN in the interstitial matrix during retinal development.•The disruption of these proteins during the process of retinal lamination formation leads to severe structural defects and cell death.•This may contribute to a better understanding of normal structural development, and the importance of maintaining ECM architectural stability in the adult retina.

PurposeTo examine the expression of interstitial extracellular matrix components and their role during retinal development.Material and methodsFibronectin (FN), collagen IV (Coll IV) and laminin 5 (Lam 5) expression in rat retinas from developmental stages E17 to adult were studied. In addition, PN5 full-thickness retinas were cultured for 7 days with dispase, which selectively cleaves FN and Coll IV, at either 0.5 U/ml or 5.0 U/ml for 3 or 24 h. Eyecups and retinal cultures were examined morphologically using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry.ResultsColl IV, Lam 5 and FN were all transiently expressed in the interstitial matrix of the retinal layers during development. The retinal layers in dispase treated explants was severely disturbed in a dose and time dependent manner.ConclusionsFN, Lam 5 and Coll IV, are present in the interstitial extracellular matrix during rat retinal development. Enzymatic cleavage of FN and Coll IV early in the lamination process disrupts the retinal layers implicating their pivotal role in this process.