The nature of fuel molecules trafficking between mammalian glial cells and neurons was explored using acute retinal cell preparations of solitary Müller glial cells, Müller cells still attached to photoreceptors (the "cell complex"), and solitary photoreceptors. 14C-Molecules in the cell complex, Müller cells, and respective baths were quantitated following 30 min incubation in bicarbonate-buff...

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) influences the differentiation and survival of retinal photoreceptors in vivo and in vitro, but it is not known whether it acts directly on photoreceptor FGF receptors or indirectly through activation of surrounding cells. To clarify the effects of FGF-2 on photoreceptor survival, we developed a purified photoreceptor culture system. The outer nuclear laye...

Purpose Rod photoreceptor terminals respond to retinal injury with retraction and sprouting. Since the guidance cue Semaphorin3A (Sema3A) is observed in the retina after injury, we asked whether Sema3A contributes to structural plasticity in rod photoreceptors. Methods We used Western blots and alkaline phosphatase (AP)-tagged neuropilin-1 (NPN-1) to detect the expression of Sema3A in an orga...