Retinal organization in the bcl-2-overexpressing transgenic mouse

Naturally occurring cell death is believed to play a major role during the development of the nervous system in the establishment of neuronal architecture. Here we study the effects of cell death inhibition by using a transgenic mouse in which the powerful antiapototic gene bcl-2 is expressed in neurons. The retina of this mouse reveals that the general neuronal plan has been maintained. However, bcl-2 overexpression leads to altered frequencies of the major cell types in the retina. Thus, it is possible to estimate cell-type-specific rates of apoptosis by observing the increases in numbers of cells in the bcl-2-overexpressing transgenic mouse. J. Comp. Neurol. 446:1-10, 2002. (C) 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.