Intraretinal processing following photoreceptor rescue by non-retinal cells.
Royal College of Surgeon (RCS) rats undergo retinal degeneration due to the inability of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells to phagocytose shed outer segments. We explored the effect of introducing Schwann cells to the subretinal space of RCS rats (before the onset of retinal degeneration), by relying on electroretinogram (ERG) recordings and correlative retinal morphology. Scotopic ERGs recorded from cell-injected eyes showed preserved amplitudes of mixed a-wave b-wave, rod b-waves, and cone b-waves over controls (sham-injected eyes); photopic b-wave amplitudes and critical flicker fusion were also improved. Normal retinal morphology was found in areas of retinas that had received cell injections. Since Schwann cells have no phagocytic properties, their therapeutic effect is best explained through a paracrine mechanism (secretion of factors that ensure photoreceptor survival).
Pinilla
I
I
Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Instituto Aragones de Ciencias de la Salud, Spain.
Cuenca
N
N
Martínez-Navarrete
G
G
Lund
R D
RD
Sauvé
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002470:Cell Survival; D004596:Electroretinography; D005425:Flicker Fusion; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D011922:Rats, Mutant Strains; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000473:pathology; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000473:pathology; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000637:transplantation*
D015415:Biomarkers