CYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON PATHOLOGICAL MULLER CELLS AFTER ARGON-LASER PHOTOCOAGULATION

Abstract

The cytochemical localization of G6Pase activity, which is specific to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of Mueller cells, was studied after argon laser photocoagulation in the guinea pig retina. After argon laser radiation, Mueller cells exhibited enlargement of the cytoplasm an increase of reactive ER and the nuclei, dislocation of the nuclei and diagonal stretching of the cytoplasm. However, cell attachment between Mueller cells and the proliferated pigment epithelial cells or Bruch''s membrane differed with the degree of retinal coagulation. This histo- and cytochemical method may be useful for examining Mueller cells under various pathological conditions.