Retina Metabolism and Metabolism in the Pigmented Epithelium: A Busy Intersection
James B. Hurley
Abstract
, glucose, and other nutrients diffuse out of the choroid and then filter through a monolayer of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells to fuel the retina. Recent studies of energy metabolism have revealed striking differences between retinas and RPE cells in the ways that they extract energy from fuels. The purpose of this review is to suggest and evaluate the hypothesis that the retina and RPE have complementary metabolic roles that make them depend on each other for survival and for their abilities to perform essential and specialized functions.
Topics & Concepts
MetabolismIntersection (aeronautics)RetinaEpitheliumBiologyCell biologyChemistryBiochemistryNeuroscienceGeneticsGeographyCartographyRetinal Development and DisordersPhotoreceptor and optogenetics researchRetinal Diseases and Treatments