Journal
TISSUE & CELL
Volume 52, Issue -, Pages 42-50Publisher
CHURCHILL LIVINGSTONE
DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2018.03.010
Keywords
Endothelial cells; Astrocytes; Pericytes; Retinal development
Categories
Funding
- Diabetes Fonds (Dutch Diabetes Fund) [2014.00.1784]
- Landelijke Stichting voor Blinden en Slechtzienden
- Novartis Fonds
- MaculaFonds
- MaculaFonds through UitZicht [UitZicht 2014-33]
- Nederlandse Vereniging ter Verbetering van het Lot der Blinden, Rotterdamse Stichting Blindenbelangen [B20140050]
- Stichting Blindenhulp
- Edmond en Marianne Blaauw Fonds voor Oogheelkunde
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The inner blood-retinal barrier (BRB) is made up by the neurovascular unit, consisting of endothelial cells, pericytes and glial cells. The BRB maintains homeostasis of the neural retina, but in pathological eye conditions the neurovascular unit is often disrupted, causing BRB loss. Here, we investigated in detail temporal and spatial recruitment of the neurovascular unit in the neonatal mouse retina from postnatal day (P)3 to P25 employing immunohistochemical staining of vascular endothelium (isolectin B4), pericytes (a SMA and NG2) and astrocytes (GFAP). In addition, we investigated gene expression of polarized astrocytic end-feet markers aquaporin-4 and laminin a2 chain with qPCR. We observed GFAP-positive cells migrating ahead of the retinal vasculature during the first postnatal week, suggesting that the retinal vasculature follows an astrocytic meshwork. From P9 onwards, astrocytes acquired a mature phenotype, with a more stellate shape and increased expression of aquaporin-4. NG2-positive cells and tip cells co-localized at P5 and invaded the retina together as a vascular sprouting front. In summary, these data suggest that recruitment of the cell types of the neurovascular unit is a prerequisite for proper retinal vascularization and BRB formation.
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