Protocol for the isolation, culturing, and evaluation of primary Müller glial cells from pig retina as cellular models in health and disease

Abstract

Müller glial cells maintain retinal homeostasis and provide structural and metabolic support. The pig eye closely resembles the human eye in morphology and physiology, offering strong translational potential. Here, we present a protocol for isolating and culturing primary Müller glial cells from pig retina to study their function in health and disease. We describe steps for eyeball dissection, retinal isolation, photoreceptor cell depletion, and retinal digestion. We then detail procedures for the selection, culture, and characterization of Müller glial cells.