Advanced search×

Muller cell gliosis in retinal organ culture mimics gliotic alterations after ischemia in vivo

Int J Dev Neurosci 26(7):7 (2008) PMID 18672046

A decrease in the expression of inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) currents is a characteristic feature of retinal glial (Muller) cells in various retinopathies, e.g., after transient retinal ischemia. We used short-term retinal organ cultures to investigate whether similar physiological alterations can be induced under in vitro conditions. During 4 days in vitro, Muller cells displayed a decrease in Kir currents and an increase in transient A-type potassium currents which was similar to the alterations in membrane physiology during ischemia-reperfusion in vivo. In addition, gliosis of Muller cells both in vivo and in organ cultures was associated with cellular hypertrophy and an alteration in osmotic swelling characteristics. Whereas Muller cells in control retinae did not swell under hypotonic stress, cells in postischemic retinae and in organ cultures swelled upon hypotonic challenge. Therefore, Muller cells in organ cultures can be used to investigate distinct aspects of ischemia-induced Muller cell gliosis. Both the decrease in Kir currents and the alteration in osmotic swelling may reflect a dysfunction of Muller cells regarding the control of the ionic and osmotic homeostasis in the retina.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2008.07.003
Version: za2963e q8zaf q8zb7 q8zcc q8zdf q8ze9 q8zfc q8zg4

Similar articles you may find interesting…

  1. Polysubstance and alcohol dependence: Unique abnormalities of magnetic resonance-derived brain metabolite levels

    Drug Alcohol Depend 130(1-3):30-37 (2013) PMID 23122599 PMCID PMC3624044

    While metabolite concentrations in ALC at one month of abstinence were largely normal, PSU showed persistent and functionally significant metabolic abnormalities, primarily in the DLPFC. Our results point to specific metabolic deficits as biomarkers in polysubstance misuse and as targets for pharmac...
  2. Analysis of neural stem cell self-renewal and differentiation by transgenic RNAi in Drosophila

    Arch Biochem Biophys 534(1-2):38-43 (2013) PMID 22906721

    We review the key molecular mechanisms that regulate the asymmetric cell divisions of neuroblasts during brain development in Drosophila. We then summarize recent genome-wide transgenic RNAi screens in Drosophila and report on the identification of new regulators and gene networks that are required...
  3. Shape of optimal active flagella

    arXiv:1306.0129 [physics.bio-ph] 1 Jun 2013

    We derive computationally the optimal shape of An internally-forced periodic planar flagellum deforming as a travelling wave. The optimum is here defined as the shape leading to a given swimming speed with Minimum energetic cost. To calculate the energetic cost though, we consider the Irreversible i...