Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To study the integration and differentiation of the bone marrow stem cells into the retinal neuronal cells in the adult mouse. Methods: Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled bone marrow cells were isolated from adult transgenic mouse ubiquitously expressing GFP. Cells were expanded in vitro and transplanted into the tail vein of adult mice. The integration and differentiation of grafted cells in recipient retinas were studied 1, 6 and 12 months after transplantation. The GFP-positive grafted cells in the ganglion cell layer of the recipient mouse retinal slices were recorded using the whole cell patch clamp technique. Results: Donor-derived cells were observed in the deeper retinal layers of recipient retinas as early as 1 months after transplantation. Extensive integration of grafted cells was seen 12 months after transplantation. The grafted cells showed differentiation into astrocytes, immature neurons and possibly retinal neurons. Voltage-clamp and current-clamp recordings demonstrated the existence of small inward current in the donor-derived cells, suggesting that the differentiated cells have built electrophysiological relationship with residential recipient retinal cells. Conclusions: Systemically transplanted adult bone marrow stem cells are capable of integrating, surviving, and differentiating into neural cells in retinas of adult mouse.
Keywords: retina • transplantation • retinal connections, networks, circuitry