Physiological properties of retinal Muller glial cells from the cynomolgus monkey, Macaca fascicularis--a comparison to human Muller cells.
Retinae from rabbits and laboratory rodents are often used as 'models' of the human retina, although there are anatomical differences. To test whether monkey eyes provide a better model, a physiological study of Muller glial cells was performed comparing isolated cells and retinal wholemounts from the cynomolgus monkey, Macaca fascicularis and from man. The membrane conductance of Muller cells from both species was dominated by inward and outward K(+) currents. Cells displayed glutamate uptake currents and responded to nucleotides by intracellular Ca(2+) increases. However, there were also species differences, such as a lack of GABA(A) receptors and of Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) currents in monkey cells. Thus, the use of Muller cells from cynomolgus monkeys may be advantageous for investigating a few specific properties; in general, monkey cells are no more similar to human cells than those from standard laboratory animals.
Pannicke
Thomas
T
Paul-Flechsig-Institut für Hirnforschung, Universität Leipzig, Jahnallee 59, D-04109 Leipzig, Germany. pant@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Biedermann
Bernd
B
Uckermann
Ortrud
O
Weick
Michael
M
Bringmann
Andreas
A
Wolf
Sebastian
S
Wiedemann
Peter
P
Habermann
Gunnar
G
Buse
Eberhard
E
Reichenbach
Andreas
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008875:Middle Aged; D023421:Models, Animal; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity
D015221:Potassium Channels; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D002118:Calcium