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Glutamate recycling is a major function of retinal Müller cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression and function of glutamate transporters during diabetes.

Sprague–Dawley rats were rendered diabetic by a single dose of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). Following 12 weeks of diabetes, immunolocalisation and mRNA expression of the two glial cell transporters, GLAST and EAAT4 were evaluated using indirect immunofluorescence and real-time PCR. The function of glutamate transport was investigated at 1, 4 and 12 weeks following induction of diabetes by measuring the level of uptake of the non-metabolisable glutamate analogue, d-aspartate, into Müller cells.

There was no difference in the localisation of either GLAST or EAAT4 during diabetes. Although there was a small apparent …