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The effect of nitric oxide on the contractile tone of Müller cells
Y Kawasaki1, T Fujikado, J Hosohata
1Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Medical School, Osaka, Japan.
Abstract:
The effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the contractile tone of Müller cells was investigated. Müller cells, isolated from the retina of chick embryos, were cultured on thin sheets of silicone. S-Nitro-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP), an NO donor, was applied in the presence or the absence of carboxyl phenyltetramethylimidazole oxide (C-PTIO), an NO scavenger. The contractile tone of Müller cells was assessed by the extent of wrinkles created on the silicone sheets. The change of contractile tone was evaluated quantitatively by digitizing the photograph before and after the application of SNAP. Relaxation of wrinkles was induced by SNAP. C-PTIO inhibited the SNAP-induced relaxation of wrinkles. These results suggest that NO affects the contractility of embryonic Müller cells and could thus modulate ocular development.