UCLA

M�ller glial cells are derived from the same progenitor pool as retinal neurons during development, and their processes span the entire mature retina. M�ller glial cells show similarities to astrocytes of the central nervous system and serve vital roles of maintaining homeostasis and integrity of the neural retina. In cold blood vertebrates, M�ller glial cells act as endogenous stem cells to repair damaged retinas. In the brain, mitochondria were shown to influence axon branching, synaptic function, and neurogenesis. Many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s, involve mitochondrial dysfunction. Recent research now focuses on the metabolic partnership between M�ller glial cells and retinal neurons. However, the metabolic response of M�ller glia to distress signals such as neural degeneration is not well understood. This study combines advanced molecular genetic tools and super-resolution imaging technology to decipher M�ller mitochondrial morphology and distribution within the integrated retinal neural network. The data show that the overall retinal health conditions, such as photoreceptor degeneration, influence the mitochondrial network of M�ller glia. The M�ller mitochondrial morphology of degenerating retina was significantly diverse throughout the cell length, and they are more elongated or tubular as compared with healthy retina in all retinal layers. These results contribute to our understanding of how M�ller glial metabolism may impact neuronal function and survival.