Neuropeptide Y-evoked proliferation of retinal glial (Müller) cells (original) (raw)

Background: Glial cells in human retinas and in fibrocellular membranes from patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) have been described to upregulate their expression of Y 1 receptors for neuropeptide Y (NPY) (Soler et al.: Glia 39:320, 2002). However, it is unknown whether Y 1 receptor activation causes proliferation of retinal glial cells. We investigated whether NPY exerts a proliferation-stimulating effect on retinal glial cells, and compared the NPY-evoked signaling with the signaling of purinergic P2Y receptors. Methods: Proliferation assays using bromodeoxyuridine were carried out on primarily cultured Müller glial cells of the guinea pig, in the absence and presence of blockers of Y 1 receptors, of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K).