optic cup morphogenesis involved in camera-type eye development

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

The invagination of the optic vesicle to form two-walled indentations, the optic cups, that will go on to form the retina. This process begins with the optic vesicle becoming a two-walled structure and its subsequent shape changes. It does not include the fate commitment of cells to become the pigmented retina and the neural retina. An example of this process is found in Mus musculus. [GOC:dph, GOC:mtg_sensu, GOC:sdb_2009, GOC:tb, ISBN:0878932437]

Optic cup morphogenesis is a crucial developmental process that forms the foundational structure of the camera-type eye, found in vertebrates and some invertebrates. This complex process involves a series of intricate cellular interactions and molecular signaling pathways that orchestrate the transformation of a simple sheet of ectodermal tissue into the intricate, multi-layered optic cup.

The process begins with the invagination of the optic vesicle, an outpocketing of the developing brain, into the surrounding mesenchyme. This invagination is driven by a complex interplay of signaling pathways, including the Wnt, Shh, and BMP pathways.

Simultaneously, the optic vesicle undergoes a process of regionalization, forming two distinct compartments: the pigmented epithelium (PE) and the neural retina (NR). The PE, derived from the outer layer of the optic vesicle, will eventually become the pigmented layer of the retina, responsible for absorbing stray light and providing metabolic support to the NR. The NR, formed from the inner layer of the optic vesicle, will develop into the light-sensitive layer of the retina containing photoreceptor cells and other neurons.

The invagination of the optic vesicle deepens, forming a cup-shaped structure with an opening at the anterior end called the optic fissure. This fissure will eventually close, forming the optic stalk that connects the optic cup to the developing brain.

During this invagination, a series of cellular movements, driven by cell-cell adhesion molecules and cytoskeletal rearrangements, are essential for shaping the optic cup. The apical surface of the NR cells, facing the lumen of the cup, develops specialized junctions, including tight junctions and adherens junctions, which maintain the integrity of the neural retina and regulate the passage of molecules.

The optic cup's rim, where the PE and NR layers meet, gives rise to the ciliary marginal zone (CMZ), a highly proliferative region that contributes to the growth and differentiation of the developing retina. The CMZ is essential for maintaining a continuous supply of new retinal cells and for regulating the size and shape of the optic cup.

As the optic cup matures, the NR undergoes a series of intricate differentiations, leading to the formation of the various cell types that make up the retina, including photoreceptor cells, bipolar cells, ganglion cells, and supporting cells.

The optic cup, now a fully formed structure, will eventually give rise to the eye's essential components, including the retina, the iris, and the lens, all of which are vital for capturing and processing light to form visual images.'
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Proteins (1)

Compounds (4)