Study of subretinal intercellular space

Immunocytochemical demonstration of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein in cerebellar medulloblastoma

Previously, immunoreactive rod-opsin and S-antigen (arrestin), two highly characteristic markers of retinal photoreceptors and pinealocytes, were shown to be present in certain medulloblastoma cells. It, thus, has been suggested that such cells differentiate along the photoreceptor lineage. This is corroborated in the present immunocytochemical investigation using antibodies against another photoreceptor-cell marker, the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). As shown in preparations of human retina and pineal organ, IRBP can be successfully demonstrated in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue: the IRBP immunoreaction is located to the outer and inner segments of retinal photoreceptor cells and to perikarya of certain pinealocytes. Examination of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens of 66 cerebellar medullo-blastomas revealed varying numbers of IRBP-immuno-reactive tumor cells in 19 cases that were formerly shown to contain rod-opsin and S-antigen immunoreaction. IRBP-immunoreactive tumor cells were also found in a retinoblastoma and a pineocytoma, but not in neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma, glioblastoma, oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma. The results indicate: (1) cerebellar medulloblastomas are heterogeneous in their differentiation potential; (2) one type of medulloblastoma displays photoreceptor characteristics; (3) this type appears to be closely related to retinoblastoma and pineal cell tumors; and (4) all three types of tumors may display additional common features to be explored in future studies.

Distribution of ascorbate in the retina, subretinal fluid and pigment epithelium

The posterior segment of the eye was divided into four compartments: retinal cytosol (R), subretinal fluid on the retinal surface (S/R), retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cytosol, and subretinal fluid on the RPE surface (S/RPE). The volume of each compartment was estimated from the dilution of creatinine (in the extraction buffer) by the endogenous tissue fluid. The ascorbate concentrations in R, S/R, S/RPE, and RPE were 20.6, 12.3, 3.7, and 5.8 mg/dl respectively. Dehydroascorbate was observed only in the RPE and S/RPE. The decreasing ascorbate concentration from the retina to RPE, and the distribution of dehydroascorbate suggest a movement of ascorbate from the vitreous cavity into the subretinal space. The permeability of retinal cell layers to ascorbate was confirmed by the high radioactivity observed in the subretinal space after an intravitreal injection of C14-ascorbate. The occurrence of dehydroascorbate in the RPE and the S/RPE indicates the presence of oxidative reaction of ascorbate in these compartments, where light induced free radicals are located.

Human retinal pigment epithelium in long term explant culture

Explants of human retinal pigment epithelium were maintained in culture in various types of media, and examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. After one month in vitro, the central areas showed a monolayered configuration with distinct polarity and presence of ruthenium red stainable material on the apical surface. On the peripheral areas of Bruch's membrane, multilayered lesions were observed to develop and to extend from the monolayered epithelium and past the cut edge in Bruch's membrane. Cells in these lesions contained little melanin and generally lacked an apico-basal polarity. Ruthenium red staining revealed the presence of electron dense material on the apical surface of the lesions as well as in the extracellular space between cells in the various layers. Development of multilayered lesions with deposition of extracellular material are seen in various chorio-retinal disorders, including senile macular degenerations and also subsequent to laser and cryo-therapy. The findings in the present study point to the explant culture system as a valuable tool in the study of important aspects of chorio-retinal pathology.

Distribution of retinoids in different compartments of the posterior segment of the rabbit eye

Using high-performance liquid chromatography, the amounts of all-trans retinol, retinal and retinyl palmitate were measured in the following ocular tissues and fluid of the light (LA) and dark adapted (DA) rabbit: cytosol and membrane fractions of the retina (R/C and R/M), cytosol and membrane fractions of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE/C and RPE/M), subretinal fluid collected from the inter-photoreceptor matrix (S/R) and the matrix between apical microvilli of the RPE (S/RPE). The total amount of all-trans retinol extracted from LA eyes, 2.74 nmol per eye, was ten times greater than the amount extracted from DA eyes. In the LA eye, most of the all-trans retinol was extracted from the membrane fraction of the retina (67%); in the DA eye, most of the retinol was extracted from the cytosol fraction of the retina (58%). In contrast, the DA eye yielded more all-trans retinal (9.84 nmol) than the LA eye (5.80 nmol) and most of this retinoid was recovered from the cytosol and membrane fractions of the retina. A higher amount of all-trans retinyl palmitate was recovered from the LA eye (5.88 nmol) than the DA eye (2.02 nmol). Although most of this retinyl palmitate was extracted from the cytosol fraction of the RPE (45%, LA eye), appreciable amounts were found in all other ocular compartments. The amount of retinyl palmitate in the LA eye exceeded that of the DA eye in every compartment examined in the present study, suggesting a possible important role of retinyl esters in the visual cycle.

Interphotoreceptor retinol-binding proteins: possible transport vehicles between compartments of the retina

In the eye, vitamin A (retinol) is mainly stored in the retinal pigment epithelium(RPE) although its primary function is in the visual process in the photoreceptor organelles of the neural retina (NR). It is well established that during light adaptation, the amount of retinol drops in the NR but rises in the RPE. During dark adaptation, the converse occurs. This indicates a migration of retinoid between the two tissues, the direction of which is dictated by the state of light or dark adaptation of the photoreceptors. The mechanism by which this migration is effected is unknown. We now present evidence that at least one protein exists in the subretinal space or on the cell surfaces which demonstrates many of the unique characteristics one would expect of an interphotoreceptor retinol-binding protein and could function as a vitamin A transport vehicle between NR and RPE.