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Distribution of erythroid spectrin (α, β) immunoreactivity in the human retina

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Title Distribution of erythroid spectrin (α, β) immunoreactivity in the human retina
 
Creator Nag, Tapas C
 
Subject Human retina
Fibres of Henle
Müller Cell
Parafovea
Microtubules
 
Description 352-358
Spectrin ( and ) is a tetrameric, key membrane skeletal protein initially reported to be present in erythrocytes. It is also
present in other cells, neurones and the retina. This study reports immunoreactivity (IR) to erythroid spectrin in human retina
at different ages (56-91 years), as examined by immunohistochemistry and immuno-electron microscopy (IEM). Spectrin IR
was localised moderately in ganglion cell layer, inner- and outer plexiform layers and predominantly in photoreceptor inner
segments and macular fibres of Henle. As the latter are interleaved by outer processes of Müller cells, IEM was used to see
which cellular processes contained spectrin. IEM revealed that gold particles were associated with microtubules of cone
inner segments and in fibres of Henle, but were absent in Müller cell processes, supporting immunohistochemical data on
the absence of IR in Müller cells (stained with vimentin antibody). In fibres of Henle, a steady expression of spectrin was
seen until eighth decade, and then a decreased expression beyond ninth decade, which paralleled with degenerative
microtubule changes (seen by transmission electron microscopy) in them. These changes could be responsible for agerelated
down-regulation of spectrin expression in fibres of Henle. It is likely that one specific role of spectrin in the human
retina could be maintenance of the macular fibres of Henle. Its reduction with age may cause alterations in cone membrane,
which may be responsible for their vulnerability in ageing.
 
Date 2021-07-30T04:16:11Z
2021-07-30T04:16:11Z
2021-08
 
Type Article
 
Identifier 0975-0959 (Online); 0301-1208 (Print)
http://nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/57784
 
Language en
 
Publisher NIScPR-CSIR, India
 
Source IJBB Vol.58(4) [August 2021]