Mesenchymal stem cells as a possible therapy in experimentally induced retinal damage in Albino rat: Histological study

Abstract

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Retinal degeneration had been increased as a common cause of blindness nowadays. Stem cells could be apromising therapy for treating retinal degeneration.Aim of the work: To investigate the possible role of BMSCs on the damaged retina resulting from continuous fluorescentlight exposure.Materials and Methods: Twenty- five albino rats (80- 100) gm were used in this study. Of which, 5 rats were used forpreparation of the BMSCs. The other twenty adult rats were divided into three groups. Rats of the control group were kept in12 hrs light/ 12 hrs dark. Rats of group II (fluorescent light exposure group) were exposed to two 20W white fluorescent lamps60 cm length continuously for 2 weeks at an illumination of 500 Lux. Group II rats were examined 8 weeks after fluorescentlight exposure. Group III animals were injected once by PKH 26–labeled BMSCs into the vitreous cavity of the eye at the endof the second week of fluorescent light exposure and kept for 8 weeks. Retinal specimens were prepared for light (LM) andelectron microscopic (EM) examination. Morphometric and statistical study was performed.Results: Sections of group II showed thinning and disorganization of outer segments. There were spaces and disorganizationof the cells of the outer and inner nuclear layers. Most ganglion cells had vacuolated cytoplasm and some appeared with densenuclei. Most of retinal cells had distorted organelles. Immunohistochemical reaction revealed significant increase in GFAPimmune reaction. Statistical analysis revealed a significant decrease in the thickness of most retinal layers. Meanwhile, groupIII retinas showed restoration of most of the histological structure.Conclusion: BMSCs could ameliorate retinal degeneration resulted from continuous fluorescent light exposure.