Current researches on effects of retinal Muller cell on glaucomatous retinal ganglion cells

Retinal ganglion cells （RGCs） apoptosis is the pathologic characteristic of glaucoma.Retinal Muller cells is a predominant glial element.It plays an important role in maintaining normal retinal structure and function,including supporting neurons,maintaining homeostasis of retinal extracellular milieu and modulating neuron activity,etc.In recent years,glaucoma has been found to be associated with a reactive retinal Muller cells changes,which may involve in neuronal apoptosis and meanwhile support the survival of retinal neurons.The progress in the study of the mechanism of Muller cells participating in the glaucomatous neuronal apoptosis and survival was reviewed.\r\n\r\nKey words: \r\nMuller cells;  glaucoma;  retinal ganglion cells;  apoptosis