Unlike mammals, zebrafish can regenerate all of their retinal neurons through Müller glial cells, which respond to retinal damage by re-entering the cell cycle to create clusters of progenitor cells. The progenitors continue to proliferate as they migrate to the site of damage, where they ultimately differentiate into new retinal neurons. In contrast, Müller glia of the mammalian retina respond to injury with reactive gliosis, which if persistent, can lead to loss of Müller cell function and devastating vision loss. Despite this, multiple lines of evidence suggest that mammalian Müller glial cells possess a latent ability to regenerate retinal neurons. This work examines various the signaling pathways that trigger the Müller glia to re-enter the cell cycle and which molecules are required for retinal progenitors to differentiate into new neurons during adult zebrafish retinal regeneration. First, we show the Tg(nrd:egfp)/alb zebrafish line is expressed in multiple areas of the developing zebrafish. In the adult light damaged retina, Neurod is not expressed in Müller glial cells as they reenter the cell cycle or their immediate progeny, but is expressed in progenitors of regenerating rod photoreceptors as they exit the cell cycle and begin differentiating. Next, we provide evidence that combining two previously described light damage paradigms results in more extensive and consistent across the dorsal and ventral retina, and a more robust proliferation response from Müller glial cells. Further, we show that zebrafish Müller glial cells, like the mammalian retina, posses both regenerative and gliotic potential. Finally, we show that Shh signaling is not required for Müller glial cell entry into the cell cycle, but is required for progenitor cell amplification. Additionally, Shh is required for proper amacrine and ganglion cell differentiation following Ouabain damage. In summary, these experiments will elucidate the molecular requirements at critical stages in retinal regeneration in the zebrafish and reveal targets for advances in sight-saving treatments.
","abstract_html":"<p>Unlike mammals, zebrafish can regenerate all of their retinal neurons through Müller glial cells, which respond to retinal damage by re-entering the cell cycle to create clusters of progenitor cells. The progenitors continue to proliferate as they migrate to the site of damage, where they ultimately differentiate into new retinal neurons. In contrast, Müller glia of the mammalian retina respond to injury with reactive gliosis, which if persistent, can lead to loss of Müller cell function and devastating vision loss. Despite this, multiple lines of evidence suggest that mammalian Müller glial cells possess a latent ability to regenerate retinal neurons. This work examines various the signaling pathways that trigger the Müller glia to re-enter the cell cycle and which molecules are required for retinal progenitors to differentiate into new neurons during adult zebrafish retinal regeneration. First, we show the Tg(nrd:egfp)/alb zebrafish line is expressed in multiple areas of the developing zebrafish. In the adult light damaged retina, Neurod is not expressed in Müller glial cells as they reenter the cell cycle or their immediate progeny, but is expressed in progenitors of regenerating rod photoreceptors as they exit the cell cycle and begin differentiating. Next, we provide evidence that combining two previously described light damage paradigms results in more extensive and consistent across the dorsal and ventral retina, and a more robust proliferation response from Müller glial cells. Further, we show that zebrafish Müller glial cells, like the mammalian retina, posses both regenerative and gliotic potential. Finally, we show that Shh signaling is not required for Müller glial cell entry into the cell cycle, but is required for progenitor cell amplification. Additionally, Shh is required for proper amacrine and ganglion cell differentiation following Ouabain damage. In summary, these experiments will elucidate the molecular requirements at critical stages in retinal regeneration in the zebrafish and reveal targets for advances in sight-saving treatments.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Thomas, Jennifer Lee"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Ph.D.","degree_level":"Open Access Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Anatomy and Cell Biology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Ryan Thummel"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2014,"date_issued":"2014-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2014-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:59:39Z","subjects":["Gliosis","Hedgehog","Müller glia","Regeneration","Retina","Zebrafish","Cell Biology","Developmental Biology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/997","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Ryan Thummel"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Thomas, Jennifer Lee"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2014-01-01T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Anatomy and Cell Biology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ph.D."]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Gliosis","Hedgehog","Müller glia","Regeneration","Retina","Zebrafish","Cell Biology","Developmental Biology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/997"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Unlike mammals, zebrafish can regenerate all of their retinal neurons through Müller glial cells, which respond to retinal damage by re-entering the cell cycle to create clusters of progenitor cells. The progenitors continue to proliferate as they migrate to the site of damage, where they ultimately differentiate into new retinal neurons. In contrast, Müller glia of the mammalian retina respond to injury with reactive gliosis, which if persistent, can lead to loss of Müller cell function and devastating vision loss. Despite this, multiple lines of evidence suggest that mammalian Müller glial cells possess a latent ability to regenerate retinal neurons. This work examines various the signaling pathways that trigger the Müller glia to re-enter the cell cycle and which molecules are required for retinal progenitors to differentiate into new neurons during adult zebrafish retinal regeneration. First, we show the Tg(nrd:egfp)/alb zebrafish line is expressed in multiple areas of the developing zebrafish. In the adult light damaged retina, Neurod is not expressed in Müller glial cells as they reenter the cell cycle or their immediate progeny, but is expressed in progenitors of regenerating rod photoreceptors as they exit the cell cycle and begin differentiating. Next, we provide evidence that combining two previously described light damage paradigms results in more extensive and consistent across the dorsal and ventral retina, and a more robust proliferation response from Müller glial cells. Further, we show that zebrafish Müller glial cells, like the mammalian retina, posses both regenerative and gliotic potential. Finally, we show that Shh signaling is not required for Müller glial cell entry into the cell cycle, but is required for progenitor cell amplification. Additionally, Shh is required for proper amacrine and ganglion cell differentiation following Ouabain damage. In summary, these experiments will elucidate the molecular requirements at critical stages in retinal regeneration in the zebrafish and reveal targets for advances in sight-saving treatments.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Characterization Of Adult Zebrafish Retinal Regeneration Following Two Different Damage Models"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Ryan Thummel"],"dc:creator":["Thomas, Jennifer Lee"],"dc:date.available":["2014-01-01T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Unlike mammals, zebrafish can regenerate all of their retinal neurons through Müller glial cells, which respond to retinal damage by re-entering the cell cycle to create clusters of progenitor cells. The progenitors continue to proliferate as they migrate to the site of damage, where they ultimately differentiate into new retinal neurons. In contrast, Müller glia of the mammalian retina respond to injury with reactive gliosis, which if persistent, can lead to loss of Müller cell function and devastating vision loss. Despite this, multiple lines of evidence suggest that mammalian Müller glial cells possess a latent ability to regenerate retinal neurons. This work examines various the signaling pathways that trigger the Müller glia to re-enter the cell cycle and which molecules are required for retinal progenitors to differentiate into new neurons during adult zebrafish retinal regeneration. First, we show the Tg(nrd:egfp)/alb zebrafish line is expressed in multiple areas of the developing zebrafish. In the adult light damaged retina, Neurod is not expressed in Müller glial cells as they reenter the cell cycle or their immediate progeny, but is expressed in progenitors of regenerating rod photoreceptors as they exit the cell cycle and begin differentiating. Next, we provide evidence that combining two previously described light damage paradigms results in more extensive and consistent across the dorsal and ventral retina, and a more robust proliferation response from Müller glial cells. Further, we show that zebrafish Müller glial cells, like the mammalian retina, posses both regenerative and gliotic potential. Finally, we show that Shh signaling is not required for Müller glial cell entry into the cell cycle, but is required for progenitor cell amplification. Additionally, Shh is required for proper amacrine and ganglion cell differentiation following Ouabain damage. In summary, these experiments will elucidate the molecular requirements at critical stages in retinal regeneration in the zebrafish and reveal targets for advances in sight-saving treatments.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/997"],"dc:subject":["Gliosis","Hedgehog","Müller glia","Regeneration","Retina","Zebrafish","Cell Biology","Developmental Biology"],"dc:title":["Characterization Of Adult Zebrafish Retinal Regeneration Following Two Different Damage Models"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Anatomy and Cell Biology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ph.D."]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:59:39Z"}