Interactions between the retinal pigment epithelium and the neural retina

RH Steinberg - Documenta Ophthalmologica, 1985 - Springer
RH Steinberg
Documenta Ophthalmologica, 1985Springer
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) interacts with the photoreceptors, which it faces across
the subretinal space. In these interactions the RPE acts as three types of cell-epithelium,
macrophage, and glia. This review briefly describes selected interactions between the RPE
and photoreceptors in ion and water transport, Vitamin A transport, phagocytosis of shed
portions of outer segments, ensheathment of photoreceptors outer segments, and electrical
responses. The electrical interactions can be recorded at the cornea in the c-wave, fast …
Abstract
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) interacts with the photoreceptors, which it faces across the subretinal space. In these interactions the RPE acts as three types of cell - epithelium, macrophage, and glia. This review briefly describes selected interactions between the RPE and photoreceptors in ion and water transport, Vitamin A transport, phagocytosis of shed portions of outer segments, ensheathment of photoreceptors outer segments, and electrical responses. The electrical interactions can be recorded at the cornea in the c-wave, fast oscillation, and light peak of the DC electroretinogram (DC-ERG) and electrooculogram (EOG). Each response reflects photoreceptor-RPE interactions in a distinct way. The three responses taken together provide perhaps the best opportunity to learn how pathophysiological conditions alter the interactions between the RPE and photoreceptors.
Springer