TY - JOUR
T1 - cGMP-mediated effects on the physiology of bovine and human retinal Müller (glial) cells
AU - Kusaka, Shunji
AU - Dabin, Isabelle
AU - Barnstable, Colin J.
AU - Puro, Donald G.
PY - 1996/12/15
Y1 - 1996/12/15
N2 - 1. Whole-cell currents of freshly dissociated or cultured Müller cells from human and bovine retinas were studied using the perforated-patch and standard whole-cell recording techniques. 2. We found that internal perfusion of cGMP or external exposure to 8-bromo-cGMP activated a calcium permeable, non-selective cation current in Müller cells, the principal glial cells of the retina. In addition, the activity of calcium-activated potassium channels increased markedly. These currents were minimally affected by cAMP. 3. Molecular studies using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that human Müller cells in culture contain transcripts closely related to the rod cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel. 4. Since guanylate cyclase is a known target for nitric oxide (NO), we tested the effect of NO donors on Müller cell currents. These agents induced currents that were qualitatively similar to those activated by cGMP. 5. Our experiments support the idea that the NO-cGMP pathway regulates the physiology of Müller cells and may play a role in integrating neuron-glia interactions in the retina.
AB - 1. Whole-cell currents of freshly dissociated or cultured Müller cells from human and bovine retinas were studied using the perforated-patch and standard whole-cell recording techniques. 2. We found that internal perfusion of cGMP or external exposure to 8-bromo-cGMP activated a calcium permeable, non-selective cation current in Müller cells, the principal glial cells of the retina. In addition, the activity of calcium-activated potassium channels increased markedly. These currents were minimally affected by cAMP. 3. Molecular studies using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that human Müller cells in culture contain transcripts closely related to the rod cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel. 4. Since guanylate cyclase is a known target for nitric oxide (NO), we tested the effect of NO donors on Müller cell currents. These agents induced currents that were qualitatively similar to those activated by cGMP. 5. Our experiments support the idea that the NO-cGMP pathway regulates the physiology of Müller cells and may play a role in integrating neuron-glia interactions in the retina.
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U2 - 10.1113/jphysiol.1996.sp021812
DO - 10.1113/jphysiol.1996.sp021812
M3 - Article
C2 - 9003566
AN - SCOPUS:0030450355
VL - 497
SP - 813
EP - 824
JO - Journal of Physiology
JF - Journal of Physiology
SN - 0022-3751
IS - 3
ER -