Article
The Effect of OECs Xenotransplantation on Post-trauma Reparation and Functional Activity of the Retina
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Published: | June 18, 2008 |
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The purpose of this work was to study the regenerative and neuroprotective effects of Olfactory Ensheathing Cells (OECs) obtained from the olfactory zone of the mucous membrane of the nose, using the laser-induced rabbit retina injury model.
Methods: The retina of 10 rabbits (20 eyes) was coagulated by an argon laser. OECs were injected into the suprachoroidal space of experiment eyes; the same amount of BSS was injected in sham eyes. Elecroretinographic (ERG) and histological studies were carried out. General ERG (1HZ stimulation frequency) and 30Hz-flicker ERG were registered before and after 7-14- 30 days after injury of the retina and OECs transplantation. Histological studies were conducted: the linear size of the retina that contained no photoreceptors was measured on the 30th day.
Results: ERG results indicate that suprachoroidal injection of OECs had neuroprotective effect on photorecepor and Mueller cell functions. Compared with shams, OECs transplantation helped preserve the retinal function and later it improved the restoration of retina electrogensis.Morphometric measurements confirmed that the average size of all affected sections of the retina in experiment eyes were considerably smaller than in shams.
Conclusions: Our findings show that OECs transplantation after laser-induced injury of the retina facilitates its rapid regeneration, probably due to the presence of neural stem cells in OEC culture.