Activation of Müller cells occurs during retinal degeneration in RCS rats.
Müller cells can be activated and included in different functions under many kinds of pathological conditions, however, the status of Müller cells in retinitis pigmentosa are still unknown. Using immunohistochemisty, Western blots and co-culture, we found that Müller cells RCS rats, a classic model of RP, could be activated during the progression of retinal degeneration. After being activated at early stage, Müller cells began to proliferate and hypertrophy, while at later stages, they formed a local 'glial seal' in the subretinal space. As markers of Müller cells activation, the expression of GFAP and ERK increased significantly with progression of retinal degeneration. Co-cultures of normal rat Müller cells and mixed RCS rat retinal cells show that Müller cells significantly increase GFAP and ERK in response to diffusable factors from the degenerting retina, which implies that Müller cells activation is a secondary response to retinal degeneration.
Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
Tong Tao
TT
Zhao
Chun Yu
CY
Tian
Zheng Qin
ZQ
Yin
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002452:Cell Count; D048430:Cell Shape; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012160:Retina / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D014746:Vimentin; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases