In order to understand the molecular basis of glucose regulation suppo
rting visual function, this study examined the presence of GLUT2, a fa
cilitated-diffusion glucose transporter isoform, and delineated its lo
calization in the rat retina. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain r
eaction (RT-PCR) demonstrated the presence of GLUT2 mRNA, and immunobl
ot analysis using polyclonal antibody specific to rat GLUT2 revealed a
band at a molecular weight of approximately 60 kDa, indicating the pr
esence of GLUT2 protein in the rat retina. Fluorescence and electron m
icroscopy localized GLUT2 expression to the apical ends of Muller cell
s that face the inter-photoreceptor space. These findings suggest that
GLUT2 on Muller cells may control intra-retinal glucose homeostasis b
y performing both anterior and posterior glucose transport within the
rat retina. This is the first study to provide evidence that GLUT2 is
present in the mammalian central nervous system and indicates that GLU
T2 may have local glucose homeostatic functions within the retina in a
ddition to its role in the regulation of systemic blood glucose level.