Abstract
Objective To observe the effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) on blood glucose levels and diabetic retinopathy in diabetes mellitus (DM) rats.Method A total of 45 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group (group A,10 rats) and DM group (33 rats).Diabetic model was established in DM group by tail vein injection of streptozotocin.The DM group was further randomly divided into 3 groups (11 rats in each group),including group B (no transplantation),group C (hUCMSC was injected through tail vein) and group D (hUCMSC was injected into the vitreous).Blood glucose,retina wholemont staining and expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the retina were measured at 2,4,6,8 weeks after hUCMSC injection.The blood glucose was significantly different between A-D groups before injection (t=-64.400,-60.601,-44.065,-43.872; P=0.000) BDNF expression was studied by real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry staining.Results The blood glucose was significantly different between A-D groups after hUCMSC injection (F=400.017,404.410,422.043,344.109; P=0.000),and between group C and group B/D (t=4.447,4.990; P＜0.01).Immuno-staining shown that BDNF was positive in ganglion cell layer (RGC) of group A,weak in group B while BDNF expression increased in group C/D.BDNF mRNA expression was significantly different between group B,C andDat 4,6 and 8 weeks after hUCMSC injection (F 29.372,188.492,421.537; P=0.000),and between group B and C/D (t=66.781,72.401,63.880,88.423,75.120,83.002; P＜0.01) by RT-PCR analysis.The BDNF mRNA expression was significantly different between C and D groups only at 8 weeks after hUCMSC injection (t =127.321,P =0.005).Conclusions Tail vein injection of hUCMSCs can significantly reduce the blood glucose levels of rats.Intravenous and intravitreal injection of hUCMSCs can increase the expression of BDNF. Key words: Diabetic retinopathy/therapy; Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation/methods; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
