Cellular and molecular aspects of glial-neuron interactions in the retina

Abstract

In a model system, that of the retina of the honeybee drone, the authors have demonstrated the transfer of metabolic substrate from glial cells to another cell type, namely the photoreceptors. Experimental work still in progress on acutely isolated Müller cells and photoreceptor cells from the guinea pig suggest that such a metabolic transfer might also occur in the mammalian retina. If this is indeed the case, it would be of great interest to explore whether Müller cells play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy.

Key Words:

• honeybee drone retina
• Müller glial cells
• neurons
• nitric oxide synthesis
• diabetic retinopathy