The Endocannabinoid System in Retinal Müller Glia: Lessons From Astrocyte Research

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a widespread neuromodulatory system involved in both physiological and pathological processes. The ECS has been mainly characterized in neurons, but emerging evidence has revealed its presence in different glial cells. Many studies focused on the functions of the ECS in astrocytes, but its role in other glial cells remains poorly explored. Müller cells are the main glial cells in the retina, providing structural maintenance, metabolic support and neuroprotection to other retinal cells. However, the crosstalk between the ECS and Müller glia (MG) has been scantly described so far. In this context, inspired by similar research on astrocytes, the study of the presence and activity of the ECS in MG is currently emerging as an interesting way of controlling retinal functions in physiopathological conditions. This review will examine the current knowledge on the ECS in MG with the general aim to promote future research in this field.