TY  - JOUR
TI  - Expression of Frizzleds and secreted frizzled-related proteins (Sfrps) during mammalian lens development 
AU  - Chen, Yongjuan
AU  - Stump, RichardJ.W.
AU  - Lovicu, FrankJ.
AU  - Mcavoy, JohnW.
T2  - The International Journal of Developmental Biology
AB  - Recent studies indicate a role for Wnt signaling in regulating lens cell 
differentiation (Stump et al., 2003). Here we investigated expression patterns of Wnt receptors, the Frizzleds (Fzs) and the Wnt signaling regulators, the secreted frizzled-related proteins (Sfrps), during rodent lens development. RT-PCR showed that Fz receptors, Fz1-Fz8 are expressed in lens. In situ hybridization showed that all the Fz genes examined have similar expression patterns. 
Fzs are expressed throughout the early lens primordium. At embryonic day 14.5 (E14.5), Fz gene expression is predominantly localized to the epithelium and elongating cells at the lens equator. 
Fz expression is absent from lens fibers. This pattern of Fz gene expression continues throughout early postnatal development. Immunolocalization studies showed that Fz protein distribution closely follows that of the mRNAs. In addition, epithelial cells in FGF-treated explants show strongest Fz reactivity in cellular protrusions as they migrate and elongate. Sfrp1- Sfrp5 are expressed and all, except Sfrp2, have similar patterns of expression to each other and to the Fzs during lens development. Sfrp2 
is strongly expressed in all lens pit cells but becomes restricted to the presumptive epithelial cells of the lens vesicle. By E14.5, Sfrp2 is only present in a few cells above the lens equator. 
Sfrp2 is not detected in the lens at E18.5 or at later stages. This study shows that 
multiple Fz and Sfrp genes are expressed during lens morphogenesis and differentiation. This is consistent with a role for Wnt-Fz signaling during both embryonic and postnatal lens development.

PY  - 2004
DO  - 10.1387/ijdb.041882yc
VL  - 48
IS  - 8-9
SP  - 867
EP  - 877
J2  - Int. J. Dev. Biol.
LA  - en
SN  - 0214-6282
SN  - 1696-3547
UR  - https://ijdb.ehu.eus/article/041882yc
Y2  - 2024/05/05/00:02:19
ER  -