Muller glia

Muller cells are glial cells in the retina, (retina ) of the eye. They are according to the neurons, the second most common component of the retina and can be distinguished clearly from these structurally and functionally. They fulfill physiological roles and transmit light between (optical) scattering neurons through. Some authors they are held for specialized fibrillar astrocytes. They were of the Würzburg anatomist Heinrich Müller (1820-1864) first recognized and described.

A special feature of Müller cells is that they like the embryonic Radiärglia from the inner - rich ( ventricular in this case, the vitreous body) to the outer ( mesenchymal ) boundary layer. The cell bodies ( perikarya ) are located in the inner nuclear layer of the retina. The Müller cell retains physiological roles in interaction with the neuronal cells, such as the inclusion of the released during depolarization potassium. Loss of cytoarchitecture of Müller cells can be used for retinal detachment ( retinal detachment ) contribute.

Optical importance: research results from 2007 at the University of Leipzig show that Müller cells have a light-guiding function. They span the retina of the one to the other. They collect the light on the front surface of the retina and lead it to the light-sensitive cells of the retina, the rear surface, but similar to fiber optic cables. Without the Müller cells more light would be scattered by the neurons of the retina, so that visual acuity would be reduced.