The Differentiation Of Subretinal-transplanted MSCs In Retinitis Pigmentosa Rat

Objective To observe the growth and differentiation of subretinal-transplantedrat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the microenvironment of retinitis pigmentosainduced by NaIO₃.Methods Lewis rats MSCs cultured in-vitro were selected by adherence to theculture dish, identified by CD90(+) CD45(-) through flow cytometry and labeled withBrdu. 25 Lewis rats retinitis pigmentosa models were established by 3ï¼…NaIO₃intraperitoneal injection and subsequently confirmed by pathological section. 25 ratswere randomly distributed into 5 groups, 5 rats in every group. The right eyes wereinjected with MSCs in subretinal space, while the left eyes were injected with thesame amount of PBS. The rats were killed and globes were enucleated 1,2,3,4 or 5weeks after the surgery separately. Frozen sections were stained with Brdu primarymonoclonal antibody, FITC- labeled secondary monoclonal antibody and rhodopsin orpan- cytokeratin primary monoclonal antibody seperately combined withCy3-1abeled secondary monoclonal antibody successively. The sections wereobserved under fluorescent microscope.Results MSCs distributed in the in the layer of RPE cells and photoreceptorcells in the 1st week after surgery. From the 3rd to 5th week, Rhodopsin (+) andpan-cytokeratin (+) MSCs were found. This indicate that the MSCs transplanted intothe subretinal space can demonstrate the surface antigen of the RPE and RPC cells.Conclusions MSCs distributed in the layer of RPE cells and photoreceptor cellsafter transplantation. During 3rd to 5th week after transplantation, MSCs have thepotential to differentiate into photoreceptor cell and RPE cell.