Comparative studies on mammalian Müller (retinal glial) cells.
Abstract: Müller cells from 22 mammalian species were subjected to morphological and electrophysiological studies. In the 'midperiphery' of retinae immunocytochemically labeled for vimentin, estimates of Müller cell densities per unit retinal surface area, and of neuron-to-(Müller) glia indices were performed. Müller cell densities were strikingly similar among the species studied (around 8000-11,000 mm-2) with the extremes of the horse ( or = 20,000 mm-2). By contrast, the number of neurons per Müller cell varied widely, being clustered at 6-8 (in retinae with many cones), at about 16, and at up to more than 30 (in strongly rod-dominated retinae). Isolated Müller cell volumes were estimated morphometrically, and cell surface areas were calculated from membrane capacities. Müller cells isolated from thick vascularized retinae (carnivores, rats, mice, ungulates) were longer and thinner, and had smaller volumes but higher surface-to-volume ratios than cells from thin paurangiotic (i.e. with blood vessels only near the optic disc) or avascular retinae (rabbits, guinea pigs, horses, zebras). In whole-cell voltage-clamp studies, Müller cells from all mammals studied displayed two dominant K+ conductances, inwardly rectifying currents and delayed rectifier currents. TTX-sensitive Na+ currents were recorded only in some species. Based on these data, the following hypotheses are presented, (a) neuron-to-(Müller) glia indices are determined by precursor cell proliferation rather than by metabolic demands; (b) Müller cell volumes depend on available space rather than on the number of supported neurons; and (c) it follows that, the specific metabolic activities of Müller cells must differ greatly between species, a difference that may contribute to distinct patterns of retinal vascularization.
Publication Date: 1997-07-01 PubMed ID: 9306243DOI: 10.1023/a:1018525222826Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigated the morphology and electrophysiology of Müller cells, glial cells in the retina, from 22 different mammalian species and proposed certain hypotheses about how and why these cells differ in form and function across species.
Research Methods
- The researchers studied Müller cells derived from 22 different mammalian species, using both morphological and electrophysiological techniques.
- The retinas of the specimens were labelled for vimentin, a protein that is abundant in Müller cells, in order to estimate the density of these cells per unit surface area of the retina, and to calculate the indices of neurons to Müller cells.
Results of the Study
- It was found that Müller cell densities were largely similar among the species studied, falling within the range of 8000 to 11,000 cells per square millimeter.
- However, the number of neurons that each Müller cell associates with varied widely among species, with densities found to be clustered at 6-8 in cone-rich retinas, at about 16, and up to over 30 in rod-dominant retinas.
- Müller cells taken from thick, vascularized retinae (retinas with blood vessels and good blood supply, such as those from carnivores, rats, mice, and ungulates) were found to be longer and thinner, and had smaller volumes but greater surface-to-volume ratios compared to cells from thin, paurangiotic (with blood vessels only near the optic disc) or avascular retinae (without blood vessels, such as those from rabbits, guinea pigs, horses, zebras).
- From the voltage-clamp studies, the Müller cells of all mammals consistently displayed two main types of potassium ion conductance: inward-rectifying currents and delayed rectifier currents. Sodium ion currents sensitive to TTX (a potent neurotoxin) were recorded in only some species.
Conclusions and Hypotheses
- The researchers proposed several hypotheses based on their results. Firstly, they suggested that the neuron-to-glia indices were determined more by precursor cell proliferation than by metabolic demands. Secondly, Müller cell volumes were thought to depend more on available space than on the number of neurons they supported. This leads to the thought that the metabolic activities of Müller cells can greatly differ between species, a fact that may also contribute to the various patterns of retinal vascularization observed in different animals.
Cite This Article
APA
Chao TI, Grosche J, Friedrich KJ, Biedermann B, Francke M, Pannicke T, Reichelt W, Wulst M, Mühle C, Pritz-Hohmeier S, Kuhrt H, Faude F, Drommer W, Kasper M, Buse E, Reichenbach A.
(1997).
Comparative studies on mammalian Müller (retinal glial) cells.
J Neurocytol, 26(7), 439-454.
https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1018525222826 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, Leipzig University, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cell Count
- Mammals / physiology
- Membrane Potentials / physiology
- Neuroglia / cytology
- Neuroglia / physiology
- Patch-Clamp Techniques
- Retina / cytology
- Species Specificity
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Trinh M, Khou V, Kalloniatis M, Nivison-Smith L. Location-Specific Thickness Patterns in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration Reveals Anatomical Differences in Multiple Retinal Layers.. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021 Oct 4;62(13):13.
- Vernazza S, Oddone F, Tirendi S, Bassi AM. Risk Factors for Retinal Ganglion Cell Distress in Glaucoma and Neuroprotective Potential Intervention.. Int J Mol Sci 2021 Jul 27;22(15).
- Dmitriev AV, Dmitriev AA, Linsenmeier RA. K(+)-dependent Müller cell-generated components of the electroretinogram.. Vis Neurosci 2021 Jul 23;38:E010.
- Trinh M, Tong J, Yoshioka N, Zangerl B, Kalloniatis M, Nivison-Smith L. Macula Ganglion Cell Thickness Changes Display Location-Specific Variation Patterns in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration.. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2020 Mar 9;61(3):2.
- Hammer M, Sauer L, Klemm M, Peters S, Schultz R, Haueisen J. Fundus autofluorescence beyond lipofuscin: lesson learned from ex vivo fluorescence lifetime imaging in porcine eyes.. Biomed Opt Express 2018 Jul 1;9(7):3078-3091.
- Wang J, O'Sullivan ML, Mukherjee D, Puñal VM, Farsiu S, Kay JN. Anatomy and spatial organization of Müller glia in mouse retina.. J Comp Neurol 2017 Jun 1;525(8):1759-1777.
- Hülsmann S, Mesuret G, Dannenberg J, Arnoldt M, Niebert M. GlyT2-Dependent Preservation of MECP2-Expression in Inhibitory Neurons Improves Early Respiratory Symptoms but Does Not Rescue Survival in a Mouse Model of Rett Syndrome.. Front Physiol 2016;7:385.
- Zayas-Santiago A, Agte S, Rivera Y, Benedikt J, Ulbricht E, Karl A, Dávila J, Savvinov A, Kucheryavykh Y, Inyushin M, Cubano LA, Pannicke T, Veh RW, Francke M, Verkhratsky A, Eaton MJ, Reichenbach A, Skatchkov SN. Unidirectional photoreceptor-to-Müller glia coupling and unique K+ channel expression in Caiman retina.. PLoS One 2014;9(5):e97155.
- Nork TM, Kim CB, Heatley GA, Kaufman PL, Lucarelli MJ, Levin LA, Ver Hoeve JN. Serial multifocal electroretinograms during long-term elevation and reduction of intraocular pressure in non-human primates.. Doc Ophthalmol 2010 Jun;120(3):273-89.
- Mojumder DK, Sherry DM, Frishman LJ. Contribution of voltage-gated sodium channels to the b-wave of the mammalian flash electroretinogram.. J Physiol 2008 May 15;586(10):2551-80.
- Greenberg KP, Geller SF, Schaffer DV, Flannery JG. Targeted transgene expression in muller glia of normal and diseased retinas using lentiviral vectors.. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2007 Apr;48(4):1844-52.
- Kofuji P, Connors NC. Molecular substrates of potassium spatial buffering in glial cells.. Mol Neurobiol 2003 Oct;28(2):195-208.
- Di Polo A, Aigner LJ, Dunn RJ, Bray GM, Aguayo AJ. Prolonged delivery of brain-derived neurotrophic factor by adenovirus-infected Müller cells temporarily rescues injured retinal ganglion cells.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998 Mar 31;95(7):3978-83.
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