Quantitative properties of Müller cells in rabbit retina as revealed by histochemical demonstration of NADH-diaphorase activity.

Müller cells in rabbit retina were selectively stained by demonstrating NADH-diaphorase activity. After the sections were measured by light microscopy, the following properties of Müller cells were found: (a) independent of the retinal localization, one Müller cell corresponds with a retinal volume of 15,000 microns 3, i.e., with 11 photoreceptor cells, 2 neurons of the inner nuclear layer, and 0.3-1 ganglion cells; (b) the Müller cell population represents about 6.8% of the total retinal volume; (c) the sorbitol accumulation of Müller cells in diabetic retinopathy is said to be unable to cause osmotic damage.