Glial Cells in the Fish Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Form Tight Junctions, Separating and Surrounding Axons.

ABSTRACT: In the retina of teleost fish, cell addition continues throughout life involving proliferation and axonal growth. To study how this is achieved in a fully functioning retina, we investigated the nerve fiber layer (NFL) of the cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni for components that might regulate the extracellular environment. We hypothesized that growing axons are surrounded by different cell structures than signal conducting axons. Using immunohistochemistry and freeze fracture electron microscopy we found that the endfeet of Müller cells (MCs) expressed aquaporin-4 but not in high densities as in mammals. The presence of this water channel indicates the involvement of MCs in water homeostasis. Remarkably, we discovered conspicuous tight junctions in the retinal NFL. These tight jun

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Pradas L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6192225 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature