While learning about eye disease, Sheel heard about Müller cells, which are found only in the eye. He became intrigued by the role the cells play in keeping photoreceptor cells alive, by providing growth factors and recycling the main neurotransmitter in the eyes, glutamate. Sheel hypothesized that Müller cells help prolong the survival of photoreceptor cells.
He cultured photoreceptor cells under three conditions: alone; with young Müller cells; and with old, "used" Müller cells. The results supported Sheel's hypothesis: on day six, 40 percent of the solo photoreceptors were alive, compared with 46 percent of the photoreceptors cultured with old Müller cells and 54 percent cultured with young Müller cells.
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