Müller cell

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Müller cells are glial cells in the retina (retina) of the eye and to the neurons , the second most common component of the retina. They are structurally and functionally clearly delimited from these and fulfill a special physiological task in that they guide light between the (optically) scattering neurons. Some authors believe that they are specialized fibrillary astrocytes . They were first recognized and described by the Würzburg anatomist Heinrich Müller (1820–1864).

A special feature of the Müller cells is that, like the embryonic radial glia , they extend from the inner (ventricular - in this case the vitreous ) to the outer ( mesenchymal ) boundary layer. The cell bodies ( perikarya ) are located in the inner granular layer of the retina. The Müller cell also takes on physiological tasks in interaction with the neuronal cells, for example the absorption of the potassium released during depolarization . Loss of the cytoarchitecture of the Müller cells can contribute to retinal detachment (amotio retinae) .

Research results at the University of Leipzig in 2007 show that Müller cells have a light-conducting function. They span the retina from the inside to the outside and, with conically widened extensions, collect light at the inner boundary layer of the retina and the vitreous, which they pass on to the light-sensing cells in the outer retinal layer, comparable to fiber optic cables . Without the Müller cells, more light would be scattered by the neurons of the retina, so that visual acuity would be reduced.

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Individual evidence

  1. Kristian Franze: Light guide in the retina. In: Spectrum of Science . October 2007, p. 16 ff.
  2. - Press release 2007/082 of the University of Leipzig: Secret of seeing revealed.  ( Page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , dated May 2, 2007.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.zv.uni-leipzig.de