RNA-Seq of developing mouse eye (E11.5 and E12.5) comparing optic fissure margins with dorsal optic cup

We sought to identify gene expression signatures confined to the small group of cells at the fissure margins that are involved in OFC. Serial cryosections perpendicular to the optic fissure were prepared from mouse embryonic eyes (n=3 at E11.5 and n=3 at E12.5). The fissure margins and a corresponding control region of dorsal optic cup were isolated using laser capture microdissection. This study design aimed to identify the signature of gene expression in the OFC margins and to identify those genes that were more highly expressed along the ventral (inferior) fissure compared to the opposing dorsal (superior region). Fissure closure is active at E11.5 and complete by E12.5本研究旨在鉴定参与视裂闭合（Optic Fissure Closure, OFC）的视裂（optic fissure）边缘少量细胞的基因表达特征。我们从小鼠胚胎眼球中制备了垂直于视裂的连续冰冻切片：其中胚胎发育第11.5天（E11.5）样本3例，胚胎发育第12.5天（E12.5）样本3例。通过激光捕获显微切割（laser capture microdissection）技术，分离得到视裂边缘组织与背侧视杯的对应对照区域。本研究设计旨在明确视裂闭合边缘的基因表达特征，并筛选出相较于对侧背侧（上方）区域，在腹侧（下方）视裂处表达显著上调的基因。视裂闭合在E11.5时处于活跃进程，并于E12.5时完全完成。