The Time Course of Deafness and Retinal Degeneration in a Kunming Mouse Model for Usher Syndrome.

Usher syndrome is a group of autosomal recessive diseases characterized by congenital deafness and retinitis pigmentosa. In a mouse model for Usher syndrome, KMush/ush, discovered in our laboratory, we measured the phenotypes, characterized the architecture and morphology of the retina, and quantifi...

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Main Authors: Lu Yao, Lei Zhang, Lin-Song Qi, Wei Liu, Jing An, Bin Wang, Jun-Hui Xue, Zuo-Ming Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2016-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0155619&type=printable
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author Lu Yao
Lei Zhang
Lin-Song Qi
Wei Liu
Jing An
Bin Wang
Jun-Hui Xue
Zuo-Ming Zhang
author_facet Lu Yao
Lei Zhang
Lin-Song Qi
Wei Liu
Jing An
Bin Wang
Jun-Hui Xue
Zuo-Ming Zhang
author_sort Lu Yao
collection DOAJ
description Usher syndrome is a group of autosomal recessive diseases characterized by congenital deafness and retinitis pigmentosa. In a mouse model for Usher syndrome, KMush/ush, discovered in our laboratory, we measured the phenotypes, characterized the architecture and morphology of the retina, and quantified the level of expression of pde6b and ush2a between postnatal (P) days 7, and 56. Electroretinograms and auditory brainstem response were used to measure visual and auditory phenotypes. Fundus photography and light microscopy were used to measure the architecture and morphology of the retina. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the expression levels of mRNA. KMush/ush mice had low amplitudes and no obvious waveforms of Electroretinograms after P14 compared with controls. Thresholds of auditory brainstem response in our model were higher than those of controls after P14. By P21, the retinal vessels of KMush/ush mice were attenuated and their optic discs had a waxy pallor. The retinas of KMush/ush mice atrophied and the choroidal vessels were clearly visible. Notably, the architecture of each retinal layer was not different as compared with control mice at P7, while the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and other retinal layers of KMush/ush mice were attenuated significantly between P14 and P21. ONL cells were barely seen in KMush/ush mice at P56. As compared with control mice, the expression of pde6b and ush2a in KMush/ush mice declined significantly after P7. This study is a first step toward characterizing the progression of disease in our mouse model. Future studies using this model may provide insights about the etiology of the disease and the relationships between genotypes and phenotypes providing a valuable resource that could contribute to the foundation of knowledge necessary to develop therapies to prevent the retinal degeneration in patients with Usher Syndrome.
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spelling doaj.art-6a9b6bf5fc994fdd9e41d84d02e9bbd62025-02-25T05:36:16ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032016-01-01115e015561910.1371/journal.pone.0155619The Time Course of Deafness and Retinal Degeneration in a Kunming Mouse Model for Usher Syndrome.Lu YaoLei ZhangLin-Song QiWei LiuJing AnBin WangJun-Hui XueZuo-Ming ZhangUsher syndrome is a group of autosomal recessive diseases characterized by congenital deafness and retinitis pigmentosa. In a mouse model for Usher syndrome, KMush/ush, discovered in our laboratory, we measured the phenotypes, characterized the architecture and morphology of the retina, and quantified the level of expression of pde6b and ush2a between postnatal (P) days 7, and 56. Electroretinograms and auditory brainstem response were used to measure visual and auditory phenotypes. Fundus photography and light microscopy were used to measure the architecture and morphology of the retina. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the expression levels of mRNA. KMush/ush mice had low amplitudes and no obvious waveforms of Electroretinograms after P14 compared with controls. Thresholds of auditory brainstem response in our model were higher than those of controls after P14. By P21, the retinal vessels of KMush/ush mice were attenuated and their optic discs had a waxy pallor. The retinas of KMush/ush mice atrophied and the choroidal vessels were clearly visible. Notably, the architecture of each retinal layer was not different as compared with control mice at P7, while the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and other retinal layers of KMush/ush mice were attenuated significantly between P14 and P21. ONL cells were barely seen in KMush/ush mice at P56. As compared with control mice, the expression of pde6b and ush2a in KMush/ush mice declined significantly after P7. This study is a first step toward characterizing the progression of disease in our mouse model. Future studies using this model may provide insights about the etiology of the disease and the relationships between genotypes and phenotypes providing a valuable resource that could contribute to the foundation of knowledge necessary to develop therapies to prevent the retinal degeneration in patients with Usher Syndrome.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0155619&type=printable
spellingShingle Lu Yao
Lei Zhang
Lin-Song Qi
Wei Liu
Jing An
Bin Wang
Jun-Hui Xue
Zuo-Ming Zhang
The Time Course of Deafness and Retinal Degeneration in a Kunming Mouse Model for Usher Syndrome.
PLoS ONE
title The Time Course of Deafness and Retinal Degeneration in a Kunming Mouse Model for Usher Syndrome.
title_full The Time Course of Deafness and Retinal Degeneration in a Kunming Mouse Model for Usher Syndrome.
title_fullStr The Time Course of Deafness and Retinal Degeneration in a Kunming Mouse Model for Usher Syndrome.
title_full_unstemmed The Time Course of Deafness and Retinal Degeneration in a Kunming Mouse Model for Usher Syndrome.
title_short The Time Course of Deafness and Retinal Degeneration in a Kunming Mouse Model for Usher Syndrome.
title_sort time course of deafness and retinal degeneration in a kunming mouse model for usher syndrome
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0155619&type=printable
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