Effect of ageing on gene expression in the African turquiose killifish retina

The mammalian central nervous system (CNS) is susceptible to age-related pathologies, resulting in progressive, irreversible disease. Neurodegenerative eye conditions, like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneneration (AMD), are on the rise due to increased life expectancy. Despite this, there are currently no long-term therapies to prevent degeneration and vision loss. The short-lived African turquoise kililfsh (Nothobranchius furzeri GRZ-AD) is an ideal genetic model for ageing studies, exhibiting rapid ageing phenotypes within its four to six-mont lifespan. Investigating the molecular consequences of ageing in the retina, we conducted bulk RNA-sequencing, revealing dysregulation of genetic pathways associated with ageing CNS and retinal diseas in the aged killifish retina. Overall design: To investigate the impact of ageing on the retina of the killifish, we performed bulk RNA-sequencing on the retina of three different age groups: 6- (young), 12- (middle-aged), and 18-week-old fish (old). Per condition (age group) we sequenced 10 biological replicates. Each biological replicated consisted of the right and left retina of one female killifish.