Transplanted Embryonic Retinal Stem Cells have the Potential to Repair the Injured Retina in Mice

Background: Stem cell transplantation has been reported as one of the promising strategies to treat retinal degenerative diseases, but this field is so complicated and still relatively new. This study investigated the potential role of transplantation of the embryo-derived retina stem cells (RSCs) into the vitreous cavity in repairing the damaged retina in mice.Methods: RSCs were isolated from Kunming mice E17 embryonic retina and ciliary body tissues. RSCs were cultured, differentiated, and labeled with 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridin (BrdU). Retinal injury was induced in left eyes in male Kunming mice by ring clamping of the optic nerve. The 6th-generation of BrdU-labeled RSCs were transplanted into the damaged retina by the intravitreal injection, and saline injected eyes were used as the control. Hematoxylin and eosin histological staining, and BrdU, Nestin and Pax6 immunostaining were performed.Results: Embryo-derived RSCs were identified by the positive stains of Pax6 and Nestin. BrdU incorporation was detected in most of RSCs. The damaged retina showed diffuse edema, disordered and loose-arranged morphological changes in all retinal layers. In the damaged retina with RSCs transplantation, the positive staining for BrdU, Pax6 and Nestin were revealed on the retinal surface. Notably, a small amount of RSCs migrated into the retinal ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear.Conclusions: Embryonic RSCs have similar characteristics to neural stem cells. Transplantation of RSCs by intravitreal injection would be able to repair the damaged retina.