[Protective Effects of Müller Glia Cells Towards Retinal Ganglion Cells]. / Der protektive Einfluss Müllerʼscher Gliazellen auf retinale Ganglienzellen.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Müller glial cells carry out different tasks to warrant normal retinal functions. The aim of this study was to investigate if Müller cells also support retinal ganglion cells (RGC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: RGC were cultured for 24 hours in the presence or absence of Müller glial cells under normoxic (20% O2, 5% CO2) or hypoxic (0.2% O2, 5% CO2, 94.8% N2) culture conditions. The number of vital RGC and the length of the newly developed neurites were evaluated. RESULTS: Under normoxic conditions, RGC vitality was significantly higher (p < 0.01) when cultured with Müller cells (62.85 ± 2.06%) than without (47.29 ± 2.83%). Under hypoxia, RGC vitality was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in co-cultures (41.07 ± 2.28%) than in homotypic RGC cultures (28.49 ± 2.16%). The maximum length of the newly developed neurites was found in the normoxic co-culture (90.7 ± 7.4 µm), but showed only a minor difference (p = 0.04) when compared to the normoxic homotypic RGC culture. CONCLUSION: Müller glial cells support RGC under normoxic and hypoxic culture conditions. Length of newly developed neurites and number of surviving RGC are both parameters to evaluate cell vitality.