Photoprotection role of melanin in the human retinal pigment epithelium. Imaging techniques for retinal melanin. 2020

Marina Istrate, and Brigitha Vlaicu, and Marioara Poenaru, and Mihai Hasbei-Popa, and Mădălina Casiana Salavat, and Daniela Adriana Iliescu
"Victor Babeș" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania.

The human eye is made up of multiple layers of pigmented tissues that have in componence melanin. In the eye, one can separate melanosomes from various embryonic origins. The pigment-producing cells in the stroma of the iris, ciliary body and the choroid (uveal melanocytes) are neural crest derivatives. On the other hand, ciliary, iris and retinal pigment epithelial cells are developed from the neural ectoderm. One universally accepted role of melanin is to react as neutral-density filter in scattering light. Melanin acts as a free radical stabilizer and has the ability to absorb near-infrared, visible light and UV radiation. This paper reviews the current knowledge on ocular melanin, including ocular melanogenesis, roles of melanin in retinal metabolic processes and some imaging techniques that identify melanin in the retina.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008543 Melanins Insoluble polymers of TYROSINE derivatives found in and causing darkness in skin (SKIN PIGMENTATION), hair, and feathers providing protection against SUNBURN induced by SUNLIGHT. CAROTENES contribute yellow and red coloration. Allomelanins,Melanin,Phaeomelanins
D008544 Melanocytes Mammalian pigment cells that produce MELANINS, pigments found mainly in the EPIDERMIS, but also in the eyes and the hair, by a process called melanogenesis. Coloration can be altered by the number of melanocytes or the amount of pigment produced and stored in the organelles called MELANOSOMES. The large non-mammalian melanin-containing cells are called MELANOPHORES. Melanocyte
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D055213 Retinal Pigment Epithelium The single layer of pigment-containing epithelial cells in the RETINA, situated closely to the tips (outer segments) of the RETINAL PHOTORECEPTOR CELLS. These epithelial cells are macroglia that perform essential functions for the photoreceptor cells, such as in nutrient transport, phagocytosis of the shed photoreceptor membranes, and ensuring retinal attachment. Epithelium, Retinal Pigment,Pigment Epithelium, Retinal
D041623 Tomography, Optical Coherence An imaging method using LASERS that is used for mapping subsurface structure. When a reflective site in the sample is at the same optical path length (coherence) as the reference mirror, the detector observes interference fringes. OCT Tomography,Optical Coherence Tomography,Coherence Tomography, Optical,Tomography, OCT

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