van Trigt, L.; (2009) Role of AhR1b, a dioxin receptor ortholog, in early zebrafish embryonic eye development. Masters thesis , UCL (University College London).

Abstract

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptors (AhRs) are ligand-activated transcription factors and have gained considerable interest among toxicologists as they mediate most of the harmful effects of dioxins, a group of compounds that comprise environmental toxicants such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). In addition to cancer, exposure to dioxin can cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system and interfere with hormonal systems. Despite extensive research on the toxic response mediated by AhR, little is known about its role in development. Here we show that the AhR1b is specifically expressed in the nasal and temporal region of the zebrafish retina at 24 hpf. Ablation of AhR1b translation by morpholino injection causes coloboma, a condition in which the choroid fissure fails to close, and induces the expression of markers for the dorsal retina such as Tbx5 and BMP4, two determinants of the dorsoventral axis of the eye. AhR1b expression appears to be stimulated by Hedgehog signaling and downregulated by retinoic acid signaling. These results suggest that AhR1b participates in dorsoventral patterning of the eye and is required for closure of the choroid fissure.

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