Biomaterial Database

Retinal pigment epithelium topography in the mature quokka, Setonix brachyurus. 1996

P A Fleming, and A M Harman, and L D Beazley

Department of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia.

In this paper we describe cell topography of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) for the mature marsupial wallaby, the quokka, Setonix brachyurus. RPE topography was analysed in bleached and stained whole mounted retinae, sampling from the entire surface area. The mature adult quokka RPE has a distinct topography in terms of both cell density and the distribution of multinucleate cells. Peripheral RPE demonstrates the lowest cell density and the greatest proportion of multinucleate cells. In an annulus surrounding central retina, corresponding to equatorial retina, RPE cell density is relatively high and multinucleate cells are at the lowest frequency. Cell density is highest in central temporal retina, in the regions adjacent to some of the highest densities in the neural retina. Other regions of central retina exhibit moderate cell densities. A small proportion of central cells are multinucleate. The RPE topography may result from, or account for, regional differences in susceptibility of this tissue to environmental influences and stressors. Understanding of this topography may throw light on the marked localization of certain human retinal diseases inherent to this tissue.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007614	Macropodidae	A family of herbivorous leaping MAMMALS of Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands. Members include kangaroos, wallabies, quokkas, and wallaroos.	Kangaroos,Macropus,Petrogale,Quokkas,Setonix,Wallabies,Wallabies, Rock,Wallaroo,Macropus robustus,Kangaroo,Petrogales,Quokka,Rock Wallabies,Rock Wallaby,Wallaby,Wallaby, Rock,Wallaroos
D008297	Male		Males
D010857	Pigment Epithelium of Eye	The layer of pigment-containing epithelial cells in the RETINA; the CILIARY BODY; and the IRIS in the eye.	Eye Pigment Epithelium
D012160	Retina	The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. It is continuous with the OPTIC NERVE and receives images of external objects and transmits visual impulses to the brain. Its outer surface is in contact with the CHOROID and the inner surface with the VITREOUS BODY. The outer-most layer is pigmented, whereas the inner nine layers are transparent.	Ora Serrata
D002452	Cell Count	The number of CELLS of a specific kind, usually measured per unit volume or area of sample.	Cell Density,Cell Number,Cell Counts,Cell Densities,Cell Numbers,Count, Cell,Counts, Cell,Densities, Cell,Density, Cell,Number, Cell,Numbers, Cell
D002467	Cell Nucleus	Within a eukaryotic cell, a membrane-limited body which contains chromosomes and one or more nucleoli (CELL NUCLEOLUS). The nuclear membrane consists of a double unit-type membrane which is perforated by a number of pores; the outermost membrane is continuous with the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM. A cell may contain more than one nucleus. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Cell Nuclei,Nuclei, Cell,Nucleus, Cell
D005260	Female		Females
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
D048429	Cell Size	The quantity of volume or surface area of CELLS.	Cell Volume,Cell Sizes,Cell Volumes,Size, Cell,Sizes, Cell,Volume, Cell,Volumes, Cell