Müller glia

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Müller cells
)
3D animation of Müller cell processes (red) interconnected with a retinal microglia cell (green).

Müller glia, or Müller cells, are a type of retinal

glial cells, first recognized and described by Heinrich Müller.[1] They are found in the vertebrate retina, where they serve as support cells for the neurons, as all glial cells do. They are the most common type of glial cell found in the retina. While their cell bodies are located in the inner nuclear layer of the retina, they span across the entire retina.[2]

The major role of the Müller cells is to maintain the structural and functional stability of retinal cells. This includes regulation of the extracellular environment via uptake of

neurotransmitters, removal of debris, regulation of K+ levels, storage of glycogen
, electrical insulation of receptors and other neurons, and mechanical support of the neural retina.

Development

Müller glia are derived developmentally from two distinct populations of cells. The Müller glia cell is the only retinal glial cell that shares a common cell lineage with retinal neurons. A subset of Müller glia has been shown to originate from neural crest cells.[3] They are shown to be critical to the development of the retina in mice, serving as promoters of retinal growth and histogenesis, via a nonspecific esterase-mediated mechanism.[4] Müller glia have also been implicated as guidepost cells for the developing axons of neurons in the chick retina.[5] Studies using a zebrafish model of Usher syndrome have implicated a role for Müller glia in synaptogenesis, the formation of synapses.[6]

Neuronal support

Spatial relationship between Müller cells and microglia

As glial cells, Müller glia serve a secondary but important role to

GABA specifically) degradation and maintenance of a favorable retinal microenvironment in turtles.[7] Müller glia have also been shown to be important in the induction of the enzyme glutamine synthetase in chicken embryos,[8] which is an important actor in the regulation of glutamine and ammonia concentrations in the central nervous system. Müller glia have been further identified as fundamental to the transmission of light through the vertebrate retina due to their unique funnel shape, orientation within the retina and more favorable physical properties.[9]

Role in retinal regeneration

Müller glia are currently being studied for their role in neural regeneration, a phenomenon which is not known to occur in humans.[10] Studies of the regenerative properties of Müller glia in both the zebrafish[11][12] and the chicken[13] retina have been performed, with the exact molecular mechanism of regeneration remaining unclear. Further studies performed in mice have shown that overexpression of Ascl1 in Müller glia in conjunction with administration of a histone deacetylase inhibitor allowed for regeneration of retinal neurons from Müller glia.[14] Studies in human models have demonstrated that Müller glia has the potential to serve as stem cells in the adult retina[15] and are efficient rod photoreceptor progenitors.[16]

Damage to retinal cells induces Müller cells to produce

fiber optic plate,[clarification needed] funneling light to the rod and cone photoreceptors.[9]

See also

  • Radial glia

References

  1. ^ Müller, Heinrich (1851). "Zur Histologie der Netzhaut" (PDF). Zeitschrift für Wissenschaftliche Zoologie. 3: 234–237. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-12-29. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  2. ^
    PMID 24894585
    .
  3. PMID 26661417
    .
  4. PMID 1201967
    .
  5. S2CID 24845744
    .
  6. PMID 21757509
    .
  7. PMID 29902
    .
  8. PMID 42916
    .
  9. ^
    PMID 17485670
    .
  10. ^ WebVision: Regeneration in the Visual System of Adult Mammals
  11. PMID 16763038
    .
  12. PMID 16872490
    .
  13. S2CID 8732324
    .
  14. PMID 28746305
    .
  15. PMID 21989110
    .
  16. PMID 21732491
    .
  17. S2CID 45740383
    .
  18. PMID 17596452
    .
  19. PMID 18326742
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Müller cells.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Müller_glia&oldid=1216652165"