Müller cells in the human foveal region.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the distribution of Müller cells in the foveal region of the human retina.


METHODS
After fixation with 4% glutaraldehyde, the percentages of the area of Müller cells were calculated at the macula, posterior pole, equator, and periphery by electron microscopy. After fixation with 4% paraformaldehyde, the silver enhancing technique was applied to show glutamine synthetase (GS) and L-glutamate/L-apartate transporter (GLAST). Furthermore, for the solubilized retinas at each region, Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed to detect GS and GLAST in the extracts.


RESULTS
The percentages of the area of Müller cells in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) were 12.3 +/- 2.7, 22.1 +/- 4.5, 23.6 +/- 1, and 26.7 +/- 4.5%, respectively. We confirmed less GS and GLAST immunoreactivity in the foveal region. ELISA and Western blot analysis revealed that the amounts of GS and GLAST in the foveal region were smaller than those in any other region.


CONCLUSIONS
These results showed that the density of Müller cells is low in the foveal region.
Nishikawa
S
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Japan. s-nishikawa@oph.med.tohoku.ac.jp
Tamai
M
M
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000032:analysis; D000368:Aged; D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002452:Cell Count; D003239:Connective Tissue Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase