There is evidence that astrocytes are closely related to the development and formation of retinal vessels. Dysfunction of astrocytes is an important cause of many retinal vascular disorders and blood-retinal barrier. Huanling Yao, Institute of Neurobiology, College of Life Science, Henan University, China, investigated development of the retinal vascular system and formation of the blood-retinal barrier in mice using immunofluorescence staining, gelatin-ink perfusion, and transmission electron microscopy. The development of the vasculature in the retina followed the rules of "center to periphery" and "superficial layer to deep layers". Its development and maturation were spatially and temporally consistent with the functional performance of retinal neurons and photosensitivity. The blood-retinal barrier gradually became mature via the process of interactions between astrocytes and blood vessel cells. These results were published in Neural Regeneration Research (Vol. 9, No. 10, 2014).
Immunofluorescence staining reveals that end-feet of astroglia appeared in the blood-retinal barrier of adult mice.
(Photo Credit: Neural Regeneration Research)
Source: Neural Regeneration Research