[Pathologic response of the retinal pigment epithelium. The effect of mucopolysaccharide in the subretinal space to phagocytosis. Part 5].
Previously we reported that retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) showed different phagocytotic activity according to the charge characteristics of the surface of polystyrene particles which were injected into the subretinal space of albino rats. In this study we examined whether subretinal mucopolysaccharide controls RPE phagocytosis or not, using positive or negative charged particles (3 microns in diameter). The technique of ruthenium red staining, a cationic dye, was employed with special efforts to detect the relationship between acid mucopolysaccharide and particles at the electron microscopic level. Six hours after injection of the positive charged particles, the ruthenium red staining revealed fine granular electron-dense materials, coating the surfaces of many small substances surrounding polystyrene particles which were not yet phagocytized by RPE. On the other hand, there was no staining of negative ones which were already phagocytized by RPE. At 24 hours, no staining was observed on the surface of either particles. These findings suggest that an anionic property of mucopolysaccharide in the subretinal space controls the phagocytosis of RPE.
Ogata
N
N
Kanai
K
K
Ohkuma
H
H
Uyama
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000838:Anions; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000502:physiology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010587:Phagocytosis; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism*
D000838:Anions; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans