Early remodeling of müller cells in the rd/rd mouse model of retinal dystrophy

J Chua; L Nivison-Smith; EL Fletcher; S Trenholm; GB Awatramani; M Kalloniatis

Journal article

Early remodeling of müller cells in the rd/rd mouse model of retinal dystrophy

J Chua, L Nivison-Smith, EL Fletcher, S Trenholm, GB Awatramani, M Kalloniatis

Journal of Comparative Neurology | WILEY | Published : 2013

DOI: 10.1002/cne.23307

Download PDF

Abstract

We studied the anatomical remodeling and gliosis of retinal Müller cells in the rd/rd mouse model of photoreceptor degeneration. A computational calculation of glutamine synthetase immunoreactivity was developed so we could specifically quantify changes in Müller cell anatomy between control mice (C57Bl/6) and the dystrophic strain. We found no change in the number of Müller cell somata between mice strains, indicating no cell proliferation as a function of development and degeneration. The retinal area occupied by the total Müller cell body (soma and processes) was significantly less in the rd/rd mouse retina compared with control mice. When only the outer retina was considered, we found rd..

View full abstract

University of Melbourne Researchers

Erica Fletcher Author

Related Projects (1)

Mechanisms of photoreceptor death.

Abnormalities in cells at the back of the eye called photoreceptors are associated with at least 50% of all cases of blindness in this count..

Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia

Awarded by Health Research Council of New Zealand

Funding Acknowledgements

Grant sponsor: National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia; Grant numbers: 1009342 and 566814; Grant sponsor: Health Research Council of New Zealand; Grant number: 05/247; Grant sponsor: Retina Australia; Grant sponsor: the Robert G Leitl estate (professorship to M.K.).