From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
[edit] References
- ^ Bernardos RL, Barthel LK, Meyers JR, Raymond PA. Late-stage neuronal progenitors in the retina are radial Müller glia that function as retinal stem cells. J Neurosci. 2007 Jun 27;27(26):7028-40. PMID 17596452
- ^ WebVision: Regeneration in the Visual System of Adult Mammals
- ^ Fausett, BV and Goldman, D. A role for a1 tubulin-expressing Muller glia in regeneration of the injured zebrafish retina. J. Neurosci. 26: 6303-6313, 2006; Raymond, PA, et al. Molecular characterization of retinal stem cells and their niches in adult zebrafish. BMC Dev Biol. Volume: 6, Issue: 2006, Date: 2006 09 12, Pages: 36
- ^ Fischer, AJ. Müller glia are a potential source of neural regeneration in the postnatal chicken retina. Nat Neurosci. Volume: 4, Issue: Mar, Date: 2001 03 06, Pages: 247-52
