Abstract
PURPOSETo investigate the survival and differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) intraocular transplantation in newborn S334 retinal degeneration transgenic rats and (Sprague-Dawley)SD rats.METHODSHuman bone marrow stromal cells line was grown on the adhesive substrate in the condition media including a-Modified Eagle medium (a-MEM)/10% fetal bovine serum. The experiments were divided into four groups: Group 1: BMSC + (Retinoid Acid) RA transplanted in S334 transgenic rats (n = 5); Group 2: BMSC transplanted in S334 transgenic rats (n = 5); Group 3: BMSC + RA transplanted in SD rats (n = 5); Group 4: BMSC transplanted in SD rats (n = 5). 2 microl cell suspension (about 4 x 10(4) cells) was injected into the vitreous space in the transgenic rats and normal SD rats at Postnatal 1 (P1) respectively. The right eyes were treated eyes and the left eyes were used as control. At P14 and P23, the rats were killed and enucleated for histological assays using plastic section.RESULTSIn Group 1, the transplanted cells were well survived. They could continue to differentiate and participate in late-stage retinal development. The number of inner nuclear layer increased. Moreover, the host retina increased their thickness, but photoreceptor cells were not rescued from transplant. In Group 2, at P14, the BMSC continue to differentiate toward their linage cell fate and formed into hemorrhage island structures with few neurons if RA was not applied. Group 3, BMSC could survive, migrate. The number of inner nuclear layer increased also. In Group 4, it revealed that host retina structures were disorganized and transplant cells formed atypical proliferating mass.CONCLUSIONSThis pilot experiment indicated that bone marrow stromal cells could survival, differentiate and participate in the retinal development after transplanted into vitreous space in the new born transgenic rats and SD rats. Histological assays showed that transplanted cells integrated with inner nuclear layer of host retina. Thus, bone marrow stromal cells may be a useful vehicle for auto- transplantation for the therapy of variety of retinal degenerative disorders.