Muller glia

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Müller glia, or Müller cells, are glia found in the vertebrate retina, which normally serve the functions of any normal glial cells. However, following injury to the retina, it has been seen that Müller glia undergo dedifferentiation into multipotent progenitor cells. At this point, the progenitor cell can divide and differentiate into a number of retinal cell types, including photoreceptors, that may have been damaged during injury.^[1] Additionally, recently published research has shown that Müller cells act as a light collector in the mammalian eye, analogous to a fiber optic plate, which funnels light to the rods and cone cells.

[edit] Research Potential

Müller glia are currently being studied for their role in neural regeneration, a phenomenon that is not known to occur in humans. ^[2] Published papers have studied Müller glia in both zebrafish^[3] and chicken^[4] retina, and further research could help towards solutions for the blind or visually impaired.

[edit] External links

• Müller cells at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
• Reichenbach A, Faude F, Enzmann V et al. (1997). "The Müller (glial) cell in normal and diseased retina: a case for single-cell electrophysiology". Ophthalmic Res. 29 (5): 326–40. PMID 9323724. 
• Müller cells acting as light conductor at The Register, based on Franze et al., Müller cells are living optical fibers in the vertebrate retina, PNAS 104(20):8287–8292, 15 May 2007 | 10.1073/pnas.0611180104

[edit] References

v • d • e Sensory system – Visual system – Eye – Retina cells Photoreceptor cells (Cone cell, Rod cell) → (Horizontal cell) → Bipolar cell → (Amacrine cell) → Ganglion cell (Giant retinal ganglion cells, Photosensitive ganglion cell) Muller glia layers Inner limiting membrane – Nerve fiber layer – Ganglion cell layer – Inner plexiform layer – Inner nuclear layer Outer plexiform layer – Outer nuclear layer External limiting membrane – Layer of rods and cones – Retinal pigment epithelium