A simple method to obtain retinal cell preparations highly enriched in specific cell types. Suitability for lipid metabolism studies

M. E. GUIDO, D. F. BUSSOLINO, G. A. DE ARRIBA ZERPA, S. DEZA, S. J. PASQUARÉ, N. M. GIUSTO AND B. L. CAPUTTO

Brain Research Protocols

Elsevier

Año: 1999 vol. 4 p. 147 - 147

1385-299X

he neural retina is a highly complex tissue composed of excitatory and inhibitory neurons and of glial cells. The biosynthesis of lipids that occurs in the retina may be distinctly regulated in one neuronal type of cells with respect to another. To study the cell-type-specific aspects of lipid metabolism, a method for the separation of different retinal cell populations is needed. Herein, we describe a very simple procedure to isolate preparations highly enriched in specific retinal cell types that are suitable for in vitro biochemical assays. The method consists of selectively obtaining photoreceptors (PRC) and retina ganglion cells (RGC) from lyophilized chicken retinas using Scotch tape to assess, then, the in vitro incorporation of labeled precursors into phospholipid moieties. When their metabolic capability was assayed, it was found that these cell preparations maintain their enzyme activities intact to incorporate P-phosphate into phospholipids in vitro at a similar rate as obs