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INTERRELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM AND THE NEUROSENSORY RETINA
Author(s) -
Stern Walter H.,
Ernest J. Terry,
Steinberg Roy H.,
Miller Sheldon S.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
australian journal of opthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.3
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1442-9071
pISSN - 0310-1177
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9071.1980.tb00284.x
Subject(s) - retina , retinal pigment epithelium , ophthalmology , retinal , optometry , biology , anatomy , medicine , neuroscience
Summary The role of the retinal pigment epithelium in regulating transport between the choriocapillariss and sensory retina was studied by examining the diffusion of sodium fluorescein across the intact rabbit retinal pigment epithelium and the retinal pigment epithelium damaged by intravenous injection of sodium iodate. Destruction of the tight junctions of the retinal pigment epithelium allowed free diffusion of fluorescein from the choroid into the retina. The electrical characteristics of the cat retinal pigment epithelium which play an important role in governing transport of substances across the retinal pigment epithelium were studied. The apical membrane of the cat retinal pigment epithelium resembled that of the frog in having high sensitivity to apical K+, greater sensitivity to apical Na +, and less sensitivity to apical HCO 3 ‐. The apical membrane was sensitive to oubain which produced a rapid fall in the transepithelial potential. Previous studies of the electrical properties of the retinal pigment epithelium in cold blooded preparations are summarized with emphasis on the important interactions between the retinal pigment epithelium and sensory retina and the implications that these studies have with regard to the regulation of photoreceptor function.