Structure and cell composition of spheres cultured from human fetal retina.
The structure and cell composition of spheres obtained by culturing human fetal retinal cells after 15, 18, 22-23, and 24 weeks of gestation were studied. The cells were cultured as neurospheres: in serum-free medium with growth factors, in which they formed floating spheres. Immunocytochemical analysis showed that cell proliferation in the spheres decreased with increasing fetal age. Stem/progenitor cells, neuroblasts, and photoreceptors were detected in the spheres. Glial cells were detected only in spheres originating from 22- and 24-week fetuses. All spheres, irrespective of age and duration of culturing, consisted of numerous cell rosettes, each histotypically similar to the neuroblastic layer of the developing retina.
Aleksandrova
M A
MA
N. K. Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow. aleksandrova@vigg.ru
Podgornyi
O V
OV
Poltavtseva
R A
RA
Panova
I G
IG
Sukhikh
G T
GT
D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000502:physiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005333:Fetus; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*