Retinoic acid inhibits conversion of dissociated Müller glia into lens-like cells

In monolayer cultures of dissociated retina cells, Müller gliocytes undergo conversion into a lens-like cell type (lentoidal cells): they become unable to adhere to neurons and accumulate lens antigens. Retinoic acid (RA) retards these changes. We present evidence that RA prevents the rapid loss of gliocyte adhesivity to neurons; and that, by promoting restoration of glia cell contacts with neurons, RA protects the gliocytes from phenotype alteration.