A cell that is part of pigmented ciliary epithelium. This cell type uptakes sodium and chloride ions from stromal interstitium and passes the ions to non-pigmented ciliary epithelial cells via gap junctions. [ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15106942 ]
Synonyms: PE cell
Term information
- FMA:70606
human_reference_atlas, eye_upper_slim
In a consensus model of unidirectional secretion, aqueous humour is formed by transferring solute, principally NaCl, from stroma to posterior chamber, with water passively following the osmotic gradient. Unidirectional secretion comprises three sequential steps. First, NaCl is transferred from the stromal interstitium into the pigmented ciliary epithelial (PE) cells. Second, solute passes from the PE into the non-pigmented ciliary epithelial (NPE) cells through gap junctions. Finally, NPE cells release Na+ and Cl− into the aqueous humour.