Transgenic Expression of Cacna1f Rescues Vision and Retinal Morphology in a Mouse Model of Congenital Stationary Night Blindness 2A (CSNB2A)

Abstract

Purpose: Congenital stationary night blindness 2A (CSNB2A) is a genetic retinal disorder characterized by poor visual acuity, nystagmus, strabismus, and other signs of retinal dysfunction resulting from mutations in Cacna1f—the gene coding for the pore-forming subunit of the calcium channel Ca_V1.4. Mouse models of CSNB2A have shown that mutations causing the disease deleteriously affect photoreceptors and their synapses with second-order neurons. This study was undertaken to evaluate whether transgenic expression of Cacna1f could rescue morphology and visual function in a Cacna1f-KO model of CSNB2A.

Methods: Strategic creation, breeding and use of transgenic mouse lines allowed for Cre-driven retina-specific expression of Cacna1f in a CSNB2A model. Transgene expression and retinal morphology were investigated with immunohistochemistry in retinal wholemounts or cross-sections. Visual function was assessed by optokinetic response (OKR) analysis and electroretinography (ERG).

Results: Mosaic, prenatal expression of Cacna1f in the otherwise Cacna1f-KO retina was sufficient to rescue some visual function. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated wild-type-like photoreceptor and synaptic morphology in sections with transgenic expression of Cacna1f.

Conclusions: This report describes a novel system for Cre-inducible expression of Cacna1f in a Cacna1f-KO mouse model of CSNB2A and provides preclinical evidence for the potential use of gene therapy in the treatment of CSNB2A.

Translational Relevance: These data have relevance in the treatment of CSNB2A and in understanding how photoreceptor integration might be achieved in retinas in which photoreceptors have been lost, such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, and other degenerative conditions.

Introduction

The family of retinal disorders called congenital stationary night blindness is a subset of inherited retinal conditions that are generally non-progressive, global and predominantly associated with dysfunction of the rod system. Genetic mutations causing congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) occur in genes associated with phototransduction, retinoid recycling, presynaptic glutamate release, or postsynaptic glutamate-induced signaling within the retina. To date, 17 genes have been identified, with over 360 distinct mutations, causing myriad clinical manifestations.^1,2 CSNB-causing abnormalities in the fundus (caused by disruption of retinoid recycling) can be distinguished from those with a normal fundus, which are further classified into Riggs-type and Schubert-Bornschein–type. Riggs-type CSNB is caused by a disruption of phototransduction within photoreceptors, whereas Schubert-Bornschein–type is caused by dysfunctions in signaling from photoreceptors to bipolar cells.^{3, 4} Schubert-Bornschein–type CSNB is further divided into Type 1 (formerly known as “Complete”) and Type 2 (formerly known as “Incomplete) CSNB, on the basis of electroretinographic characteristics.^1,5–8 

Type 2 CSNB with an X-linked pattern of inheritance (CSNB2A) is the single most common form of CSNB, attributable to mutations in a single gene—CACNA1F.^1,9–11 (CSNB2A has also been referred to as Åland eye disease, incomplete CSNB, and X-linked cone-rod dystrophy 3. Alternative nomenclatures have also been proposed including “congenital rod-cone synaptic dysfunction” and “post-transduction defect.” For simplicity, CSNB2A will be used throughout this article.^1,11) CACNA1F codes for the pore-forming α_1F subunit of the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC): Ca_V1.4. Ca_V1.4 is the voltage-gated calcium channel located at photoreceptor terminals, where it mediates the inward calcium current necessary for glutamate release. Thus, in its absence or dysfunction caused by genetic mutation, synaptic transmission from both rods and cones is impaired or absent (For a review of the physiological functions of Ca_V1.4, see Waldner et al.¹²). This deficit in synaptic transmission is reflected in electroretinogram (ERGs), which show abnormalities in both scotopic and photopic responses. ERG a-waves are largely preserved (indicating functional phototransduction in photoreceptors), whereas b-waves have markedly reduced amplitude, resulting in an overall electronegative waveform.^7,13 Symptoms associated with CSNB2A include poor visual acuity, nystagmus, strabismus, refractive errors, and color vision defects, with marked phenotypic variability between individuals.^14–16 

Several CSNB2A mouse models with loss-of-function Cacna1f mutations have now been established and extensively characterized.^17–20 These data have shown that in the absence of α_1F/Ca_V1.4, synaptic ribbons of photoreceptor presynaptic membrane do not anchor to the presynaptic membrane or adopt their mature, elongated morphology.^19,21,22 For this and other reason(s), it has been suggested that Ca_v1.4 might serve as a scaffold for presynaptic proteins that are necessary for synaptogenesis.^12,19,23,24 This disruption of presynaptic elements leads to failure of synaptogenesis between photoreceptors and its typical synaptic partners—bipolar and horizontal cells—which subsequently exhibit dendritic sprouting into the outer nuclear layer with time.^18,20,22,25 Photoreceptors, by contrast, exhibit substantial axonal abnormalities and degenerate with time.^17,18,21 The cumulative effect of these morphologic changes is to render these mice completely blind by all behavioral and electrophysiological assessments performed to date.^18,26,27 This discrepancy between visual function in Cacna1f-KO mice and their analogous human counterparts is not yet fully understood. 

These mouse models and the established data on the molecular basis of retinal dysfunction now provide opportunities to evaluate the potential for preventing or reversing the mutation effects via gene therapy. Most recently, Laird et al. used in vivo electroporation to express Ca_V1.4 transiently in a Cacna1f-KO model and found some evidence of mature synaptogenesis and possible improvement in visual function based on performance in visually-guided tasks. However, this experiment was limited by efficacy of electroporation, with only ∼100 synaptic terminals expressing the transgene per retinal section.²⁸ The current article reports efforts to investigate this experimental question in another way, by strategic creation and use of transgenic mouse lines to express Cacna1f conditionally. This can be achieved by use of the Z/EG (LacZ/eGFP) system, with which coexpression of Cre recombinase can facilitate expression of desired genes in an observable manner with the dual reporters indicating regions of expression and recombination.²⁹ Different Cre transgenes can be used to control temporal and spatial expression of genetic elements included in the modified Z/EG transgene, allowing for multiple uses of single transgenic Z/EG lines. In this work, a transgenic Z/EG line including Cacna1f (iZEG:Cacna1f) was validated by Cre recombination under control of the Pax6 α-enhancer/PO promoter (Pax6::Cre), which has early (prenatal) Cre expression, largely restricted to progenitor cells in the peripheral retina.³⁰ Subsequent breeding with the Cacna1f^G305X mouse was performed to verify whether the recombined iZEG:Cacna1f transgene could restore formation of synaptic ribbons and visual function, as assessed by immunohistochemical, optokinetic response, and electroretinographic analysis. 

These data are relevant, not only for the potential of developing CSNB2A therapies, but also for the promising technique of photoreceptor transplantation to treat retinal degeneration. As the primary deficit observed in the Cacna1f-KO retina is a lack of synaptogenesis with minimal early degeneration or inner retinal changes, restoration of α_1F expression should answer whether it is possible for photoreceptors to integrate into existing retinal circuitry after the normal developmental period—a problem shared by therapeutic efforts in transplantation of rods and cones for treatment of degenerative retinal diseases.^12,17,21 The data in this report verify the utility of this system for rescuing visual function and retinal cell morphology in Cacna1f-KO mice and provide the foundational studies for future research using this approach. 

Materials and Methods

Animal Care and Ethics

Mice were maintained in the Mouse Double Barrier Unit of the Clara Christie Centre for Mouse Genomics under a 12:12-hour light/dark cycle. All mouse experiments were approved by the University of Calgary Animal Care Committee, under protocol numbers AC12-0090 and AC16-0119, or Dalhousie University Committee on Laboratory Animals (19-058), and they adhered to the animal care guidelines established by the Canadian Council on Animal Care and the ARVO Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research. Pax6 α-enhancer/PO Promoter::Cre-IRES-GFP mice (henceforth referred to as Pax6::Cre) were a kind gift of Dr. Carol Schuurmans.^30,31 Cacna1f^G305X mice were used as the CSNB2A/Cacna1f-KO model.²⁰ 

Design and Validation of the iZEG:Cacna1f Transgene Vector

The iZEG:Cacna1f transgene was designed and created as a double-reporter system at the University of Calgary Centre for Genome Engineering, following the work of Novak et al.²⁹ Mouse Cacna1f cDNA in a gateway vector was ordered from GeneCopoeia (Rockville, MD, USA; no. MOC23581) and cloned into the multiple cloning site of the iZEG vector (http://www.cancerbiology.org/dnaizegmap.html), upstream of the eGFP reporter, and downstream of the constitutively expressed LoxP-flanked LacZ gene driven by the strong, universal, CAG promoter using recombineering technology.³² Additionally, an EM7-BleoR cassette was introduced downstream of the eGFP ORF via recombineering technology, to introduce a second ScaI restriction enzyme site for vector linearization The iZEG:Cacna1f vector was validated by DNA sequencing and by both in vitro and in vivo expression assays. For in vitro validation, HEK293T cells were cotransfected with the iZEG:Cacna1f vector, a CMV::Cre vector, and a CMV driven, nucleus-targeted red fluorescent protein (RFP) reporter control plasmid (CMV::RFP), using the FuGENE HD Transfection Reagent according to the manufacturer's instructions (https://www.promega.ca/resources/protocols/technical-manuals/101/fugene-hd-transfection-reagent-protocol). In vivo validation was performed via electroporation of wildtype mouse retinae at P0.³³ These retinas were imaged at P14. 

Generation of Transgenic Mice

The iZEG:Cacna1f transgenic mice were generated in the University of Calgary Centre for Genome Engineering, by pronuclear injection of ScaI-linearized iZEG:Cacna1f vector DNA into fertilized eggs of C57Bl/6J mice.³⁴ Embryos at the two-cell stage were then transferred into the oviducts of pseudopregnant female mice and gestated. The resulting 84 offspring were evaluated for transgene integration by PCR genotyping of both tail snips and ear punches. This yielded six transgene-positive founder lines, each of which showed transmission of the iZEG:Cacna1f transgene to subsequent generations confirming integration into the germ line. 

Breeding Strategy and Genotyping

Producing mice of the various genotypes that were necessary for the aims of this research required multiple generations of sequential breeding. First, confirmed iZEG:Cacna1f⁺ mice were bred with Pax6::Cre⁺ mice to generate the iZEG:Cacnalf⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺ mice. (Due to the complexity of transgenes in this article, steps have been taken to simply things for the reader. (1) Mice with Pax6::Cre and iZEG:Cacna1f transgenes are always hemizygous (+/0) for these genetic elements. A superscript + will be used to designate mice with these transgenes. (2) Cacna1f, and the corresponding gene CACNA1F in man, are located on the X-chromosome. Homozygous Cacna1f-KO females and hemizygous Cacna1f-KO males are collectively referred to as Cacna1f^G305X or Cacna1f-KO.) Next, iZEG:Cacnalf⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺ males were bred with homozygous Cacna1f^G305X females to generate iZEG:Cacnalf⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X males, which were the focus of the present study. Other mice resulting from these pairings were used as experimental controls or in subsequent breeding pairs, as appropriate. It should be noted that breeding pairs involving iZEG:Cacna1f⁺ mice tended to produce fewer pups than expected, with increased frequency of embryonic resorption compared with that in wild-type breeding pairs. 

Immunohistochemical Labeling

Whole-mounted retinas or retinal sections were obtained and prepared and immuno-labeled with appropriate antibodies as previously described.¹⁷ Antibodies used in this study are listed in the Table. For X-Gal staining, embryos were fixed overnight in 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) solution, before equilibration in 30% (w/v) sucrose solution with 2 mmol/L MgCl₂. Equilibrated embryos were then washed at room temperature 3 × 30 minutes in detergent solution (0.01% sodium deoxycholate, 0.02% NP-40, 2 mmol/L MgCl₂ in phosphate-buffered saline solution [PBS]), followed by overnight incubation in staining solution (detergent solution + 5 mmol/L K₄Fe(CN)₆ 3 H₂O + 5 mmol/L K₃Fe(CN)₆ + 0.8 mg/mL X-gal). Embryos were postwashed 3 × 5 minutes in ice-cold PBS solution and postfixed overnight in 4% PFA for subsequent observation or cryoprotection and sectioning. Imaging was performed as previously described, using Olympus FV1000 and Nikon A1R microscopy systems.¹⁷ 

Table.

 

Antibodies Used for the Characterization of Transgenic Mouse Retinas

 

Electrophysiological Studies

Electrophysiological investigations were carried out as previously described.²⁰ Briefly, electroretinograms (ERGs) were recorded after overnight dark-adaptation, followed by ketamine HCl (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.]) and xylazine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) anesthesia, mydriasis with cyclopentolate HCl (0.5%; Alcon, Fort Worth, TX, USA) and corneas anesthesia with proparacaine HCl (0.5%; Alcon). At the end of experiments, animals were sacrificed with an overdose of pentobarbital (100 mg/kg, i.p.), and tail snips were collected. 

Flash stimuli with maximum intensity of 10.1 log cd ∙ s ∙ m⁻² and attenuated by interposed neutral density filters were presented in a Ganzfeld sphere (LKC Technologies, Gaithersburg, MD, USA). Silver-impregnated nylon fibers (Retina Technologies, Scranton, PA, USA) were laid down on both corneas, as active electrodes, while platinum electrodes (F-E2, Astro-Med Inc., Brossard, QC, Canada) were inserted subdermally on the nose as reference, and in the right hind leg as ground. The signal was amplified 10,000-fold, with an open bandwidth of 3 to 1000 Hz (P511; Grass Instruments, West Warwick, RI, USA) and was digitized (sampling rate of 1000 Hz , PCI 6281; National Instruments, Austin, TX, USA). Dark-adapted and photopic activities were collected. 

The a-wave amplitude was measured from baseline to the most negative trough and the b-wave from the a-wave trough to the next maximum positive peak, after the signal was processed through a low-pass finite impulse response filter with a high cutoff frequency of 50 Hz using Matlab (MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA) to eliminate the interference of oscillatory potentials. In the absence of a b-wave, the peak amplitude at implicit time corresponding to average b-wave peak time in control (59ms) was used. Oscillatory potentials were isolated with a Butterworth filtering function of order 4, with a low cutoff frequency of 80 Hz. 

After ERG recordings, the brain surface was exposed through craniotomy centered at 1.5 mm lateral on each side of the midline, 3 mm posterior to the bregma. Stereotaxic reference for the visual cortex was −2.5 mm anteroposterior axis, +2.0 mm mediolateral axis while the superior colliculi was reached at −4.0 mm anteroposterior axis, +1.0 mm mediolateral axis, and −1.5 mm dorsoventral axis.⁴⁰ For visually evoked cortical potentials (VECPs), an insulated platinum electrode was lowered to the pial surface using a reference electrode inserted in the cervical muscles, away from retinal activity sources. One hundred responses to unattenuated flash stimuli were averaged, and four to six of those averaged potentials were collected. The response amplitude was measured from trough (implicit time ∼100 ms) to peak (∼150 ms). Multiunit activity was recorded after multiple single-flash recordings through an epoxylite-insulated high impedance tungsten microelectrode (Frederick Haer & Co, Bowdoinham, ME, USA), lowered to the superior colliculus stereotaxic position⁴⁰ via a micromanipulator. 

As proof of principle, recordings were performed in only two treated mice; consequently, results are simply contrasted individually to either control or iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X mice, with these two groups being summarized using mean and 99% confidence interval (CI) and contrasted using nonparametric Wilcoxon signed-ranked test⁴¹ at a level of significance of 0.05. ERG responses from the two eyes were averaged to yield one value per animal; the same was performed for the VECPs. 

Optokinetic Response Analysis

The optokinetic response (OKR) was analyzed as previously described.^17,42 In brief, the OptoMotry system was used to generate horizontally-drifting vertical sine-wave gratings, of various spatial frequencies, at a constant drift velocity of 12°/second. Spatial contrast threshold at a given spatial frequency was determined by a modified staircase procedure, in which the spatial luminance contrast was reduced stepwise until an optokinetic reflex could no longer be elicited. Percent contrast at threshold was converted to contrast sensitivity (CS) by the formula, CS =100/threshold % contrast. iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X and iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺ mice were analyzed at about two to three months of age. 

Results

Validation of the iZEG:Cacna1f Vector

The iZEG:Cacna1f vector was designed as a double-reporter system, in which independent protein markers can be visualized to identify cells expressing the transgene in which Cre-mediated recombination has (eGFP reporter), or has not (beta-galactosidase [β-Gal] reporter), occurred. Cacna1f will be coexpressed with eGFP only in cells in which Cre-mediated recombination has occurred (Fig. 1). 

Figure 1.

 

Schematic illustration of iZEG:Cacna1f transgene function. In the absence of Cre-mediated recombination, LacZ is expressed under control of the CAG promoter. With Cre expression, the LacZ-neo cassette is excised, resulting in expression of Cacna1f and eGFP.

Proper function of the iZEG:Cacna1f vector was experimentally validated using in vitro and in vivo assays. HEK293 cells transfected with CMV::Cre driver, iZEG:Cacna1f, and RFP nuclear reporter plasmids synthesized eGFP protein, whereas cells transfected only with the latter two vectors did not. Further validation was performed in vivo by electroporation of iZEG:Cacna1f and the rod-specific Nrl::Cre vector into the developing murine retina at P0. Once again, eGFP synthesis in cells expressing both plasmids indicated that the iZEG:Cacna1f vector performed as designed (Supplementary Fig. S1). 

Characterization of iZEG:Cacna1f Transgene Expression

Of the six founder lines originally shown to exhibit germ-line transmission of the iZEG:Cacna1f transgene, only one was found to express the recombination-negative reporter beta-galactosidase (β-Gal) as detected by X-gal staining of >50 E14.5 embryos. These iZEG:Cacna1f⁺ embryos exhibited widespread, albeit mosaic, labeling. Similar mosaic expression has been reported previously in transgenic predecessors of the iZEG vector system, with less than 5% of transgene-positive ES cell clones exhibiting strong, global β-Gal expression.⁴³ This variable mosaicism has been attributed to random integration at chromosomal loci that are more or less prone to epigenetic silencing.⁴⁴ Immunolabeling for β-Gal in retinal sections confirmed this mosaic expression pattern of the iZEG:Cacna1f transgene in the retina—with ∼10% to 20% of the area of any individual wholemount labeling for β-Gal, and expression primarily in photoreceptor cells (Fig. 2). Because wild-type Cacna1f expression within the mouse retina is limited at least primarily to photoreceptors, this restricted expression may be advantageous, because it would avoid the dysregulation of calcium currents caused by ectopic expression of α_1F/Ca_V1.4 in other retinal cells, after recombination.¹² 

Figure 2.

 

(A) Expected transgene expression in the iZEG:Cacna1f⁺ retina without (A) and with (B) co-expression of the Pax6::Cre driver transgene based on data from Cantrup et al. 2012.³¹ (B) Whole-mounted iZEG:Cacna1f⁺ (Left) and iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺ (Right) retinas, immunolabeled for beta-galactosidase (β-Gal; magenta) and GFP (green). Scale bar: 1000 µm. (C) Cross-section of an iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺ retina, immunolabeled for β-Gal and eGFP protein expression. Insets show a higher-resolution view of eGFP expression in a recombined, iZEG:Cacna1f-expressing region (Left), and ribbon morphology in that region by α_1F (green) and RIBEYE (magenta) immunolabeling. Scale bars: 500 µm (full image), 25 µm (insets).

Constitutive, Early In Vivo Recombination of iZEG:Cacna1f by Pax6::Cre

In vivo recombination of the iZEG:Cacna1f transgene, driven by an endogenous Cre transgene driver, was then characterized. For this purpose we used Pax6 α-enhancer/PO Promoter::Cre-IRES-GFP (Pax6::Cre) transgenic mice, which have a pre-established, early, constitutively retina-specific expression pattern confined to the retinal periphery.^30,31 In these mice, one would expect iZEG:Cacna1f⁺_;Pax6::Cre⁺ retinas to exhibit labeling for β-Gal in photoreceptors of the central, non-recombined region, and for eGFP and α_1F in the peripheral regions, in which Cre has been expressed in retinal progenitor cells during development (Fig. 2A). Additionally, as the Pax6::Cre transgene contains an IRES-GFP cassette, GFP immunolabeling is expected in all cells that continue to express Pax6 beyond retinogenesis—exclusively a subset of amacrine and ganglion cells, in the mouse.⁴⁵ 

To detect Pax6::Cre-mediated recombination, isolated retinas from iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺ and iZEG:Cacna1f⁺ mice were co-immunolabeled for both reporters (β-Gal and eGFP) and then whole-mounted for visualization (Fig. 2B). The iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺ retinas exhibited the expected labeling pattern of both reporters, with recombination leading to eGFP expression in the periphery and β-Gal expressed in the central retina. The iZEG:Cacna1f⁺ controls (lacking Pax6::Cre-driven recombination) exhibited global mosaic β-Gal immunoreactivity, but no eGFP, as expected. Cross-sections of iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺ retinas were similarly labeled for both reporters and also showed the expected retinal distribution (Fig. 2C). Interestingly, whereas nonrecombined regions showed β-Gal immunoreactivity almost exclusively in photoreceptor cells, eGFP expression as seen in cross-sections was not restricted to photoreceptors and Pax6-expressing amacrine/ganglion cells. The eGFP labeling was also observed in bipolar cells and some Pax6-negative amacrine cells of the INL—suggesting either that early recombination increases transgene expression, or that eGFP is detected more sensitively by immunohistochemistry (Fig. 2C, Left Inset). α_1F and RIBEYE immunolabeling of these sections showed no differences in ribbon morphology between recombined and nonrecombined regions (data not shown), indicating that transgenic α_1F does not disrupt the structural integrity of photoreceptor synapses. (Fig. 2C, right inset). 

Early Expression of α_1F Rescues Visual Function and Morphology in the Cacna1f-KO Retina

Behavioral Visual Analysis

After validating the expected expression of the iZEG:Cacna1f transgene with Pax6:Cre recombination, iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X mice were analyzed to determine whether overexpression of Cacna1f cDNA could rescue visual function and normal synaptic morphology, with early, constitutive expression in the peripheral retina in the Cacna1f-KO background. OKR analyses of these mice showed exceedingly poor, but measurable, vision—limited to the highest contrast at the spatial frequencies that are optimal for mice (Fig. 3). 

Figure 3.

 

Comparison of spatial contrast sensitivities of iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X mice (n=3) with those of C57Bl/6 wild-type (WT) mice (n = 9), using the optokinetic response (OKR). Wild-type data transposed from Waldner et al.¹⁷ Error bars clipped at axis limits.

Electrophysiological Analysis

Functional integrity of iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X mice (n = 4 eyes in two mice) was investigated using scotopic (Fig. 4) and photopic (Fig. 5A) electroretinograms, as well as cortical evoked potentials (Fig. 5B) and multiunit recordings at the superior colliculus (the main subcortical thalamic recipient of retinal ganglion cells) (Fig. 5C). These results were contrasted to those from Cacna1f ^G305X KO mice (n= 12 eyes, six animals) and C57Bl/6J control mice (n=26 eyes, 13 animals, data previously reported⁴¹). 

Figure 4.

 

(A) Representative scotopic electroretinograms from a flash-intensity series for a C57Bl/6J control group (left), Cacna1f ^G305X KO mice (center), and iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X mice (right). Flash intensities are in log cd ∙s ∙ m⁻², and vertical bars with circles indicate flash onset time. Shaded areas help identify the preponderance of the b-wave component. (B) Oscillatory potentials isolated from the responses to highest intensity of the series. Calibration as indicated. (C) Intensity-response curves (mean and 99% CI (shaded areas)) for a-waves (top) and b-waves (middle), for the two groups along with individual data (squares and triangles) for the two treated animals. The a-/b-wave ratio computed from the brightest (1.0 log cd ∙ s ∙ m⁻²) and a lower (−0.6 0 log cd ∙ s ∙ m⁻²) flash response (mean ± SD, with individual data points) for the two groups, with individual data presented as green squares and green triangles. The control and Cacna1f ^G305X KO groups are significantly different (*Wilcoxon signed-ranked test), and the data from two treated individuals have no overlap with either groups.

Figure 5.

 

(A) Representative photopic electroretinograms from a variety of background adaptation conditions for a C57Bl/6J control group (black), the Cacna1f ^G305X KO mice (red) and the two individual iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X mice (green squares and triangles). Background intensities are in cd ∙ m⁻², and vertical bars with circles indicate flash onset. (B) Response amplitudes as a function of background intensities: data points are means for each group, shaded areas are 99% CI. (C) Representative examples of four to six superimposed cortical evoked potentials, with horizontal bars illustrating the amplitude measurement. (D) Bar graphs representing mean ± SD for the two groups, with individual data presented as green squares and green triangles. The control and Cacna1f ^G305X KO groups are significantly different (*Wilcoxon signed-ranked test), and the data from two treated individuals have no overlap with either groups. (E) Three superimposed single-sweep recordings of superior colliculus activity, collected through a high-impedance electrode. Vertical bar with circle indicates the stimulus onset; most spiking activity occurs with a latency of 40–50 ms. Calibration as indicated.

The scotopic electroretinograms of Cacna1f ^G305X KO mice (Fig. 4A, middle column) showed the typical pattern of electronegative waveform coupled with subnormal a-wave amplitude (Fig. 4C, top graph). At high flash-intensities, the a-wave was followed by a small positive notch, previously proven to be of photoreceptor origin.²⁰ No b-wave could be elicited at any flash-intensities (Fig. 4C, middle graph). By contrast, results from the iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X mice showed a similarly deficient a-wave, but a well-delineated b-wave of normal implicit time with subnormal amplitude (Fig. 4A, right-most waveforms; C, middle graph), with further indications of post-photoreceptor processing (inner retinal, mostly amacrine cells)⁴⁶ in the form of large-amplitude, well-defined oscillatory potentials (Fig. 4B). The b-/a-wave ratio is another measure of post-photoreceptor processing. In the C57Bl/6J control mice, this ratio reached 1.98 [99%CI: 0.23] at high scotopic intensities where mostly cones are responding, and increased to 4.47 [99%CI: 0.68] at −0.6 log cd ∙ s ∙ m⁻², where both rods and cones contribute to the response (Fig. 4C, Bottom). These values are compatible with the expectation of more photoreceptor to bipolar cell convergence at lower intensities.⁴⁷ The iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Cacna1f^G305X group (controls) showed a very low b-/a-wave ratio, because the “b-wave” measured at a fixed implicit time of 59 ms is likely to be driven by the recovery phase of the photoreceptor component (0.13 [CI: 0.09] and 0.36 [CI: 0.18], for the cone and cone-rod intensities, respectively). The two iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X mice (“experimentally rescued retina”) showed positive ratio of 1.21 and 1.20 at high intensities, with indication of convergence by reaching 3.04 and 2.66, at 1.0 and −0.6 stimulus intensities, respectively. The presence of this convergence suggests some reestablishment of the photoreceptor-bipolar cell synapses. 

The photopic electroretinograms were also investigated, and data were recorded immediately after the dark-adapted series, starting with the lowest background intensities. The Cacna1f ^G305X KO mice (Fig. 5A, middle column) showed an a-wave in the mesopic background range (<45-20 cd/m²), where rods are contributing to the signal, whereas the signal recorded at high photopic background intensities was nearly extinguished, suggesting no cone activity. In all those recordings, no b-wave component was observed. In contrast, a distinct b-wave was observed in all C57Bl/6J mice, even at high photopic background intensities. This was also the case in iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X mice, in which a b-wave was present at all background intensities, although with smaller amplitude than in its C57Bl/6J counterpart (Figs. 5A, B). This again suggests partial rescue of photoreceptor-bipolar synaptic transmission. For analysis of post-retinal signal transmission, visually-driven cortical evoked potentials were collected at V1 through pial-surface electrodes. As expected, no activity could be evoked in the Cacna1f ^G305X KO mice,²⁰ but cortical responses of typical waveform and large amplitude were evoked in the iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X mice (Figs. 5C, D), confirming the presence of photoreceptor-bipolar synaptic transmission, as well as reliable transmission within the visual pathways up to the primary visual cortex in the latter strain. Multi-unit activity recorded at the level of the superior colliculi (Fig. 5E) further confirmed the activation of visually driven post-retinal pathways. From the recordings collected, the multi-unit activity appeared to be as strong in the treated transgenic animals as in C57Bl/6J mice, with response latencies in the same range. 

Immunohistochemical Analysis

For iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X mice to exhibit any visual function, one would expect to observe signs of rescue of retinal morphology in the peripheral retinal regions expressing both iZEG:Cacna1f and Cre. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed strong indications of such rescue, including (1) α_1F immuno-positive ribbon synapses (Fig. 6, left), (2) preservation of cone morphology (Fig. 6, top right), (3) reduced dendritic sprouting from rod bipolar cells, and (4) mature lamination of cone pedicles (Fig. 6, bottom right). Areas of transgene expression were generally indistinguishable morphologically from wild-type retina labeled for similar markers, although in depth analyses were not performed.¹⁷ 

Figure 6.

 

(Upper Left) 60× cross-section of a recombined region of an iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X mouse retina, immunolabeled for GFP (gray) and α_1F (green). α_1F-positive ribbon synapses can be observed in the OPL of GFP-positive columns (where the transgene is expressed and recombined by Cre). Scale bar: 10 µm. (Lower Left) 60× cross-section of recombined (top) and nonrecombined (bottom) regions of an iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X mouse retina, immunolabeled for GFP (green) and RIBEYE (magenta). RIBEYE-positive elongated ribbon synapses can be observed in the OPL of the recombined region, whereas the nonrecombined region contains punctate RIBEYE immunolabeling scattered throughout the OPL and ONL, as previously described in the Cacna1f-KO retina.¹⁷ Scale bar: 10 µm. (Upper Right) 60x cross-section in a recombined region of an iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305 mouse retina, immunolabeled for GFP (green) and cone arrestin (magenta). Cone morphology is preserved in GFP-positive columns (where the transgene is expressed, and recombined by Cre), complete with pedicles, whereas cones in the non-GFP region exhibit signs of CSNB2A-related degeneration. Dotted lines separate recombined and non-recombined regions of the same retinal section. Scale bar = 10 µm (Bottom Right) 60x cross-sections of recombined (left) and non-recombined (right) regions of an iZEG: Cacna1f⁺; Pax6: Cre⁺; Cacna1f^G305X mouse retina, immunolabeled for mCAR (green) and PKCα (magenta). Both cone axons and PKCα-positive bipolar cell dendrites terminate in a monolayer in the OPL in the recombined region, whereas cones exhibit axonal abnormalities and bipolar cells dendrites are sprouting into the ONL in the non-recombined region, as previously reported in the G305X mutant retina.^17,20,22 Scale bar = 10 µm.

Discussion

This report describes a novel system for Cre-inducible expression of Cacna1f in a Cacna1f-KO mouse model of CSNB2A. The iZEG:Cacna1f transgene was shown to function as expected, both in vitro and in vivo. Subsequent experiments in Cacna1f-KO mice showed that transgenic expression of Cacna1f cDNA in the peripheral retina of iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X mice was able to restore some visual function—and, apparently, to rescue cone, bipolar cell, and photoreceptor synaptic morphology completely—in regions with Cre-mediated transgene activation. Unfortunately, small n-values of transgenic mice precluded statistical analysis of electroretinographic and optokinetic response data. Nonetheless, these preliminary data provide evidence of transgenic rescue that merits further investigation. 

Beyond proving the function of the iZEG:Cacna1f transgene, the observations here of visual and morphologic rescue in the iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X retina address several concerns with respect to expressing Cacna1f cDNA. One such concern was the possibility that unregulated expression of Cacna1f/α_1F (under control of the strong CAG promoter)—causing an excess of α_1F protein—might be detrimental to synaptic morphology and thus to visual function. Why did this not happen? We suggest that limited expression of an accessory subunit (β, α₂δ) necessary for membrane translocation of the channel may be limiting the provision of complete Ca_V1.4 at the synapse, and thus providing an alternative regulatory mechanism for synaptic calcium regulation.^24,48 It should be noted, however, that transgenic Cacna1f expression was not experimentally quantified in this work. As such, it is only assumed that the CAG promoter resulted in the expression of supraphysiological levels of α_1F. Further investigation of this phenomenon is warranted, because it may be relevant to the success of gene therapies for other channelopathies in addition to this one. 

Another concern was the use of full-length Cacna1f cDNA in the iZEG:Cacna1f transgene. While necessary for the procedures involved in transgenesis, compression of the Cacna1f gene into cDNA in the vector results in the expression of only a single isoform. With genomic expression, by contrast, alternative splicing of mRNA for voltage-gated calcium channels is extensive, resulting in expression of a myriad of channel isoforms with different kinetics.⁴⁹ More than 20 splice isoforms of Cacna1f mRNA have been identified in the human retina, many with markedly diverse biophysical properties.^12,50,51 Expression of only the full-length Cacna1f isoform in the Cacna1f-KO retina therefore could be suboptimal for enabling the wild-type-like calcium current. Nevertheless, the rescue of some retinal function and morphology observed in these studies suggests that the full-length isoform is sufficient for the formation of functional synapses. This observation is important, not only for this research going forward, but also for potential therapeutic interventions in other channelopathies. 

Despite these positive findings, this study also faced some limitations. The mosaic expression of the iZEG:Cacna1f transgene in this model is likely the result of nontargeting integration into a genomic locus that is predisposed to epigenetic silencing.^43,52 This silencing may also be exacerbated by use of the iZEG system, because the CAG promoter has been shown to be especially susceptible to silencing by DNA methylation.⁴⁴ The minimal visual function observed in the iZEG:Cacna1f⁺;Pax6::Cre⁺;Cacna1f^G305X mice is due, at least in part, to this mosaicism, because only ∼10% to 20% of the total retinal area was found to express the iZEG:Cacna1f transgene. Additionally, although the use of the Pax6::Cre driver for retina-specific recombination is useful for early, constitutive expression, the limitation of its recombination to the peripheral retina likely also limited preservation of normal visual function and OKR. Although suboptimal for measurement of visual function, the mosaic expression in these retinas did conveniently introduce an internal control, which lends further credibility to immunohistochemical analyses of morphologic rescue. 

Although the above data provide supportive evidence for the ability of transgenically expressed Cacna1f to restore retinal morphology and function in Cacna1f^G305X mice, the Pax6::Cre transgene used in these experiments activates expression during embryonic development.^30,31 Thus the question remains: can ectopic expression of Cacna1f rescue retinal physiology after birth and/or the typical period of synaptogenesis? This model provides opportunity to answer this question with alternative Cre drivers, such as those in which temporally controlled tissue-specific expression can be induced. These include Cre-ert2-expressing transgenes. in which recombination is induced by localized treatment with tamoxifen.^53,54 If it were bred into the G305X Cacna1f-KO background, this inducible system would allow one to establish the developmental window during which transgenic α_1F expression can rescue normal retinal structure and function. 

Many data suggest that this late-stage rescue is feasible, despite the critical role of α_1F in synaptogenesis. Sequential analysis of gene expression of Cacna1f suggests that, in mice, expression of the gene begins postnatally.^55,56 In support of this, immunohistochemical labeling in wildtype P5 retinae detects only low levels of α_1F in the OPL, and wildtype and Cacna1f knock-out retinae appear markedly similar with regard to synaptic ribbon markers and bipolar cell processes, up to and including P8.¹⁹ It has also been established that the maturation of ribbon synapses in mouse photoreceptors is not complete until ∼P14.^57,58 These data imply that there is a postnatal time-window, during which expression of wildtype α_1F in photoreceptors might be sufficient to support functional synapse formation and vision in Cacna1f-deficient mice. Recent evidence even suggests that this window might extend well past the typical period of ribbon-synapse development. A recently published study by Laird et al.²⁸ used in vivo electroporation to express inducible Cacna1f transiently in the retina of an alternative Cacna1f-KO model. Despite limited efficiency in inducing the expression of α_1F, the authors were able to produce mature photoreceptor synaptic morphology and a suggested improvement in visual function by inducing α_1F expression in mice as old as 28 days—well past the typical window of synaptogenesis. The data from our study complement these findings and provide a proof of concept for an alternative model—one that might provide more widespread functional and morphological rescue at later developmental stages, using inducible Cre driver lines. Because the majority of CSNB2 cases are diagnosed well after birth, information regarding the potential window of intervention is crucial for the development of therapeutics (such as gene therapy) for this and similar developmental disorders.¹ 

The present report, coupled with the research of others into synaptogenesis in models of CSNB2A, has relevance to therapy for CSNB2A—and potentially other common, visually debilitating retinal diseases. Transplantation of photoreceptors is being actively pursued as a means of treating vision-impairing retinal degeneration, but it has recently become apparent that early experiments suggesting functional integration of transplanted photoreceptors were misinterpreted, such that the issue of integration of transplanted photoreceptors into inner-retinal circuitry remains unsolved.⁵⁹ If transgenic expression of Cacna1f cDNA can promote the integration of intrinsic photoreceptors into the neural circuitry of Cacna1f-KO retinas late in development as suggested by Laird et al.,²⁸ then subsequent experiments involving the transplantation of extrinsic wild-type photoreceptors (or precursors) into the subretinal space could be performed in Cacna1f-KO retinas. Such experiments might hold the key to understanding how photoreceptor integration can be achieved in retinas in which photoreceptors have been lost because of retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, and many other acquired and inherited retinal degenerative diseases.^12,60 

Acknowledgments

Helpful discussions were had with Frank Jirik, Frank Visser and John Cobb. Technical support was provided by Colleen Geary-Joo, Cameron Fielding, Tonmoy Talukder, Kirsten Eves, Marta Hurtati, and Lisa Kaindl. The authors express our appreciation to Cheryl M. Craft (Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California) for the gift of precious antibodies. 

Supported in part by Alberta Ride for Sight, Fighting Blindness Canada, University of Calgary Centre for Genome Engineering, CIHR (NTBH, WKS), FBC-EyeGeye Research Training Fund (DMW, WKS), and the Live Cell Imaging Facility at the University of Calgary. 

Disclosure: D.M. Waldner, None; K. Ito, None; L.-L. Chen, None; L. Nguyen, None; R.L. Chow, None; A. Lee, None; D.E. Rancourt, None; F. Tremblay, None; W.K. Stell, None; N.T. Bech-Hansen, None