Novel Roles of Sonic Hedgehog Signaling in Retinal Patterning and Neurogenesis During Mammalian Eye Development

During early eye development, Shh is critical for the formation of the two optic vesicles, which give rise to the retina, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and optic stalk. It also regulates the balance between cell proliferation and differentiation during retinal histogenesis, a key process in shaping the cellular architecture of the mature retina.

Despite these well-established roles, the temporal dynamics, region-specific functions, and downstream consequences of Shh signaling during retinal development remain poorly understood. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of Shh signaling across multiple stages of retinal development using temporally and spatially controlled deletion of Smoothened (Smo), an essential transducer of the pathway. This approach uncovers context-dependent requirements for Shh signaling in eye patterning.