Transplantation of photoreceptor and total neural retina preserves cone function in P23H rhodopsin transgenic rat.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Transplantation as a therapeutic strategy for inherited retinal degeneration has been historically viewed to restore vision as a method by replacing the lost retinal cells and attempting to reconstruct the neural circuitry with stem cells, progenitor cells and mature neural retinal cells.

Methods and findings

We present evidence for an alternative strategy aimed at preventing the secondary loss of cones, the most crucial photoreceptors for vision, by transplanting normal photoreceptors cells into the eye of the P23H rat, a model of dominant retinitis pigmentosa. We carried out transplantation of photoreceptors or total neural retina in 3-month-old P23H rats and evaluated the function and cell counts 6 months after surgery. In both groups, cone loss was significant

SUBMITTER: Yang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2957406 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature