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Interactions between the retinal pigment epithelium and the neural retina

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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.

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  1. Departments of Physiology and Ophthalmology, University of California, 94143, SanFrancisco, CA, USA

    R. H. Steinberg

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  1. R. H. Steinberg
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Steinberg, R.H. Interactions between the retinal pigment epithelium and the neural retina. Doc Ophthalmol 60, 327–346 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00158922

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