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Glia of the human retina
Author(s) -
Reichenbach Andreas,
Bringmann Andreas
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
glia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.954
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1098-1136
pISSN - 0894-1491
DOI - 10.1002/glia.23727
Subject(s) - retina , foveal , muller glia , neuroscience , biology , microglia , neuroglia , astrocyte , cell type , fovea centralis , retinal , anatomy , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , central nervous system , progenitor cell , stem cell , inflammation , immunology , biochemistry , genetics
Abstract The human retina contains three types of glial cells: microglia and two types of macroglia, astrocytes and Müller cells. Macroglia provide homeostatic and metabolic support to photoreceptors and neurons required for neuronal activity. The fovea, the site of the sharpest vision which is astrocyte‐ and microglia‐free, contains two populations of Müller glia: cells which form the Müller cell cone in the foveola and z‐shaped Müller cells of the foveal walls. Both populations are characterized by morphological and functional differences. Müller cells of the foveola do not support the activity of photoreceptors and neurons, but provide the structural stability of the foveal tissue and improve the light transmission through the tissue to the photoreceptors. This article gives overviews of the glia of the human retina and the structure and function of both Müller cell types in the fovea, and describes the contributions of astrocytes and Müller cells to the ontogenetic development of the fovea.