April 2010
Volume 51, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2010
Müller Cells Play a Key Role in Maintaining a Functional Retina After Stem Cell Transplantation in Rcs Rats
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Z. Q. Yin
    Southwest Eye Hospital, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, China
  • C. Tian
    Southwest Eye Hospital, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, China
  • T. Zhao
    Southwest Eye Hospital, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, China
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  Z.Q. Yin, None; C. Tian, None; T. Zhao, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  National Basic Research Program of China(2007CB512203)
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2010, Vol.51, 4059. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      Z. Q. Yin, C. Tian, T. Zhao; Müller Cells Play a Key Role in Maintaining a Functional Retina After Stem Cell Transplantation in Rcs Rats. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2010;51(13):4059.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose: : Retinal degeneration is a leading cause of blindness worldwide, and currently there is no practical clinical treatment. Stem cell-based therapy offers a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of retinal degeneration. This study was to evaluate whether Müller cells are potential progenitor cells in a chronic retinal degeneration model (RCS rats) and in rats with subretinal stem cell (rSC) transplants.

Methods: : The morphology of Müller cell in a RCS rats and in rats with rSC transplants was showed by immunohischemistry with anti-bodies to Chx10 (progenitor marker), vimentin (Müller cell marker) and opsin (photoreceptor cell marker).The function of retina in a RCS rats and in rats with rSC transplants was evaluated by electroretinaogram.

Results: : We found that some cells in retina co-expressed anti-bodies to Chx10 and vimentin in a RCS rats and in rats with rSC transplants. The number of Chx10-vimentin positive cells (dedifferentiated Müller cells) significantly increased after rSC transplantation in the graft region (temporal retina) as well as nasal retina. In addition, some Müller cells co-express photoreceptor cell markers. Electroretinaogram analysis showed that retinal function was significantly prolonged after transplants.

Conclusions: : Müller cells play a key role in restoring/maintaining retinal function in cell based treatments of degeneration. Investigation of the relationship between Müller cell dedifferentiation and functional recovery may lead to new treatments for retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa.

Keywords: retinal degenerations: cell biology 
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×