Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of Müller cells isolated from rabbit retina.

Proteolytic enzymes were applied in the dissociation of rabbit retina to obtain isolated Müller cells. Both trypsin and papain were used, and in some cases the trypsinization was shortly interrupted by tissue fixation before it was continued. Scanning electron microscopy mostly confirmed the previous descriptions of these cells, which were based on different techniques. In addition, some new cell extensions were observed that derived from the nuclear region. The papain procedure ensured the best cell preservation with a free surface and limited contaminant material attached. Roughly 90% of the cells excluded trypan blue. It is concluded that these cells should be preferred for biochemical studies, because their cytology also turned out to be intact as judged from electron microscopic sections.