Retinal pigment epithelium
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| Retinal pigment epithelium | |
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| Section of retina. (Pigmented layer labeled at bottom right.) | |
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| Plan of retinal neurons. (Pigmented layer labeled at bottom right.) | |
| Latin | p. pigmentosa retinae |
| Gray's | subject #225 1016 |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | p_07/12617535 |
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the pigmented cell layer just outside the neurosensory retina that nourishes retinal visual cells, and is firmly attached to the underlying choroid and overlying retinal visual cells.[1][2]
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[edit] History
The RPE was known in the 18th and 19th centuries as the pigmentum nigrum, referring to the observation that the RPE is dark (black in many animals, brown in humans); and as the tapetum nigrum, referring to the observation that in animals with a tapetum lucidum, in the region of the tapetum lucidum the RPE is not pigmented.[3]
[edit] Anatomy
The RPE is composed of a single layer of hexagonal cells that are densely packed with pigment granules.[1]
When viewed from the outer surface, these cells are smooth and hexagonal in shape. When seen in section, each cell consists of an outer non-pigmented part containing a large oval nucleus and an inner pigmented portion which extends as a series of straight thread-like processes between the rods, this being especially the case when the eye is exposed to light.
[edit] Function
The retinal pigment epithelium is involved in the phagocytosis of the outer segment of photoreceptor cells and it is also involved in the vitamin A cycle where it isomerizes all trans retinol to 11-cis retinal.
The retinal pigment epithelium also serves as the limiting transport factor that maintains the retinal environment by supplying small molecules such as amina acid, ascorbic acid and D-glucose while remaining a tight barrier to choroidal blood borne substances. Homeostasis of the ionic environment is maintained by a delicate transport exchange system.
[edit] Pathology
In the eyes of albinos, the cells of this layer contain no pigment. Dysfunction of the RPE is found in Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Retinitis Pigmentosa.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Cassin, B. and Solomon, S. (2001). Dictionary of eye terminology. Gainesville, Fla: Triad Pub. Co. ISBN 0-937404-63-2.
- ^ Boyer MM, Poulsen GL, Nork TM. "Relative contributions of the neurosensory retina and retinal pigment epithelium to macular hypofluorescence." Arch Ophthalmol. 2000 Jan;118(1):27-31. PMID 10636410.
- ^ Coscas, Gabriel and Felice Cardillo Piccolino (1998). Retinal Pigment Epithelium and Macular Diseases. Springer. ISBN 0792351444.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.
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