Abstract
Purpose: :
In this study we investigated the effect of transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) on the activation of progenitor-like cells residing in adult mammal’s ciliary body (CB).
Methods: :
Adult male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats received electrical stimulation for three days via a contact electrode applied to the cornea and another reference electrode puncture into subepithelium of the head. Biphasic rectangular current pulses (1 ms, 100uA/200uA) at 20 Hz were delivered by an electrical stimulation system for 1h per day. Proliferative activity of cells in the CB was assessed by Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) expression respectively on seven, ten and fourteen days after TES. Immunocytochemistry in combination with confocal microscopy were performed to identify the phenotype and migration of these proliferating cells.
Results: :
There were few BrdU labeled cells in the CB of control group as well as the group received TES of 100 µA current pulses at any time point. However, in group with TES of 200 µA current, some BrdU-positive cells were found in CB on the seventh day after TES. And the number of BrdU labeled cells were significantly increased fourteen days after TES. In addition, Nestin/BrdU double staining cells were detected at this time, indicating that the proliferating cells were progenitor-like cells. These cells, however, were restricted to the ciliary marginal region, suggesting that the divided progenies did not migrate to the adjacent neural retina.
Conclusions: :
These results suggest that TES can activate the proliferation of progenitor-like cells in the CB of adult SD rats. So, it raised the possibility that we could also promote the proliferation and differentiation of these cells in diseased status for cell based treatment.
Keywords: ciliary body • proliferation