Retinal pigment epithelial transplants and retinal function in RCS rats.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) transplantation maintains visual function in Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) strain of rats.


METHODS
Twelve RCS rats received RPE transplants at 16 to 20 days after birth. The retinas were studied electrophysiologically and histologically from 3 to 10 months after transplantation and compared with 11 RCS controls and 11 normal rats of comparable ages. A microelectrode was guided to the transplant site visible by its pigmentation in the albinotic RCS retina to detect responses.


RESULTS
Spontaneous ganglion cell activity was present in all retinas. Ganglion cell responses to light were detected in 9 of the 12 transplant eyes but not in any of the 11 controls. 96, 44, 140 units were encountered and 30%, 0%, 97% were driven by light respectively in transplant, control, and normal retinas. In transplants 36%, 29%, and 28% were driven at 3 to 4, 6 to 7, and 10 months after transplantation, respectively. Intraretinal ERGs with both a- and b-waves were recorded in 5 of the 8 transplants studied. None of the RCS controls studied had an IERG. The average IERG was 2.5 microV (SD = 1.9) in transplants and 59 microV (SD = 19) in normal retinas. The electrode track was traced to the transplant site in six of the seven retinas that were responsive to light and examined histologically.


CONCLUSIONS
RPE transplants to RCS rats maintain retinal function in the transplant site for long periods of time.
Yamamoto
S
S
Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032.
Du
J
J
Gouras
P
P
Kjeldbye
H
H
D000818:Animals; D004596:Electroretinography; D008839:Microelectrodes; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D051381:Rats; D011922:Rats, Mutant Strains; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology