“…The transepithelial transport of ions across the RPE begins with the activity of the apically localized Na þ /K þ -ATPase, which extrudes Na þ from the intracellular space of the RPE in exchange for K þ transportation into the RPE cytosol (Bialek et al, 1995;Blaug et al, 2003;Gallemore et al, 1993;Joseph and Miller, 1991;Miller and Edelman, 1990;Peterson et al, 1997;Steinberg, 1985). The resulting gradient for Na þ is used to take up Cl À , together with K þ , ions from the subretinal space via the activity of the Na þ /2Cl À /K þ -co-transporter (Arrindell et al, 1992;Bialek et al, 1995;Crewther et al, 2008;Hu et al, 1996;Hughes et al, 1998;Joseph and Miller, 1991;Miller et al, 1982). The influx of K þ into the RPE cytosol is counterbalanced by an efflux of K þ across the apical membrane back into the subretinal space (Fig.…”