The RPE/photoreceptor complex

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/ photoreceptor complex constitutes the choroid, bruch's membrane and the photoreceptor outer segments. The RPE interacts with bruch's membrane and the photoreceptors, which it faces across the subretinal space. In these interactions the RPE acts as three types of cell - epithelium, macrophage, and glia. There are a number of selective interactions between the choroid, bruch's membrane, RPE and photoreceptors related to ion and water transport, vitamin A transport, phagocytosis of shed portions of outer segments, ensheathment of photoreceptors outer segments, and electrical responses. One purpose of the course is to discuss the RPE/photoreceptor complex in terms of structure and function.