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Ecto‐5′‐Nucleotidase‐Positive Cells in the Choroid and Ciliary Body of the Rat Eye
Author(s) -
Braun Johann Sebastian
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the anatomical record: advances in integrative anatomy and evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1932-8494
pISSN - 1932-8486
DOI - 10.1002/ar.21080
Subject(s) - ciliary body , choroid , adenosine , 5' nucleotidase , microbiology and biotechnology , extracellular , biology , anatomy , endocrinology , chemistry , medicine , neuroscience , retina
Adenosine is known to exert multiple functions within the eye. The aim of this report was to find out if adenosine can be produced locally in the choroid and ciliary body. Therefore, I investigated the distribution of ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase (5′‐NT), the key enzyme for the production of extracellular adenosine. This report provides evidence that 5′‐NT is expressed in the choroid and in the ciliary body (and its processes) of the rat eye, predominantly in endothelial cells. These locations of 5′‐NT indicate strategically important production sites of adenosine regulating choroid and ciliary body functions (e.g., blood flow, aqueous fluid production, and immune response). Anat Rec, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.