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Attempt to classify glial cells by means of their process specialization using the rabbit retinal Müller cell as an example of cytotopographic specialization of glial cells
Author(s) -
Reichenbach Andreas
Publication year - 1989
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.440020406
Subject(s) - biology , basal lamina , cell type , neuroglia , microbiology and biotechnology , process (computing) , cell , retina , neuroscience , anatomy , muller glia , central nervous system , ultrastructure , biochemistry , stem cell , computer science , operating system , progenitor cell
Abstract The rabbit retinal Müller cell is one of the most widely studied glial cell types, and it has all forms of contacts that a glial cell can express, viz. (1) to a (ventricular) fluid space, (2) to a mesenchymal borderline (basal lamina), and (3) to neuronal compartments. This cell demonstrates the local adaptation of cell processes to the microenvironment with which they are in contact. Summarizing available data on Müller cells and other glial cell types, it is concluded that the structure with which the process is in contact determines the type of glial cell process that develops. The type I process has microvilli, desmosome‐like junctions, and high Na + , K + ‐ATPase activity; this type of process is in direct contact with a fluid such as cerebrospinal fluid. The type II endfoot‐bearing process contains gliofilaments and has a high K + conductivity; this type of process is covered by a basal lamina and is in contact with mesenchyme. The type III sheath‐bearing process insulates neuronal compartments and expresses suitable membrane properties for glia‐neuronal communication. Since structurally similar processes have been shown to have similar physiological properties, a new systematic classification of glial cells is proposed, based on the presence or absence of defined types of cell processes. This approach is believed to provide new insights into the function of neuroglia in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, in vertebrates and invertebrates, and even during ontogenetic development.