Summary
All cells in the optic vesicle of Xenopus embryos from stages 27 to 31 have the same ultrastructure. They are elongated and appear to extend from the internal to the external surfaces of the optic vesicle. They are bound together by terminal bars at the internal (lumen) margin, have microvilli and a cilium on the internal margin, and are covered with a basement membrane on the external margin. Their cytoplasm contains abundant free ribosomes, polysomes, mitochondria, yolk and lipid inclusions, and sparse endoplasmic reticulum.
Although other studies have shown that retinal ganglion cells originate at stages 29–30 and have their central connections determined before stage 31, these events could not be correlated with any ultrastructural changes. The first sign of differentiation in retinal cells was an increase in endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus at stage 32. Microtubules and microfilaments appeared at stage 33 in association with the first axonal outgrowth from retinal ganglion cells. Cytodifferentiation proceeded gradually until large areas of Nissl substance had developed by stage 35. At larval stage 48 the ganglion cells resembled those in the adult.
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The authors wish to thank Marija Duda for her excellent technical assistance during this investigation.
Supported by Public Health Service Predoctoral Fellowship No. 5 FO 1 GM37746-02 and Postdoctoral Fellowship 1 F2 NB37,746-01.
Supported by Grant GB8315 from the National Science Foundation.
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Fisher, S., Jacobson, M. Ultrastructural changes during early development of retinal ganglion cells in Xenopus . Z. Zellforsch. 104, 165–177 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309728
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309728