Abstract
Retinal epithelial cells from pigmented rabbits have been cultured and radiolabelled during division with 3H-thymidine and transplanted to the subretinal space of albino rabbits using a pars plana transvitreal approach. The host rabbits were maintained on cyclosporine immunosuppression after transplantation surgery. The transplant cells survive and maintain a morphologically normal appearance for at least 5 months. The pigmented epithelial cells retain their pigmentation and become integrated with the host retinal epithelium forming junctional complexes with both the host and other transplant cells. The transplant cells contact host photoreceptors with their apical processes and phagocytize outer segments. There appears to be no significant cell division among the transplant cells.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brittis M, Gouras P, Lopez R, Sullivan B, Kjeldbye H (1988) Retinal epithelial allografts facilitated by cyclosporine. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 29 [Suppl]:241
El Dirini AA, Wang H, Ogden TE, Ryan SJ (1992) Retinal pigment epithelium implantation in the rabbit: technique and morphology. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 32:668
Flood MT, Gouras P, Kjeldbye H (1980) Growth characteristics and ultrastructure of human retinal pigment epithelium in vitro. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 19:1309
Gouras P, Flood MT, Kjeldbye H, Bilek MK, Eggers H (1985) Transplantation of cultured human retinal epithelium to Bruch's membrane of the owl monkey's eye. Curr Eye Res 4:253–265
Gouras P, Lopez R, Brittis M, Kjeldbye H, Sullivan B (1988) The experimental route to curing a rat retinal dystrophy by transplantation. 5th International Retinitis Pigmentosa Congress Proceedings, pp 267–276
Gouras P, Lopez R, Du J, Gelanze M, Kwun R, Brittis M, Kjeldbye H (1990) Transplantation of retinal cells. Neuroophthalmol 10: 165–176
Li L, Turner JE (1988) Inherited retinal dystrophy in the RCS rat: photoreceptor cell rescue by RPE cell transplantation. Exp Eye Res 47:911
Lopez R, Gouras P, Brittis M, Kjeldbye H (1987) Transplantation of cultured rabbit retinal epithelium to rabbit retina using a closed eye method. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 28:1131
Lopez R, Gouras P, Kjeldbye H, Sullivan B, Reppucci V, Brittis M, Wapner F, Goluboff E (1989) Transplanted retinal pigment epithelium modifies the retinal degeneration in the RCS rat. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30:586–588
Young RW, Gaur VP, Li L, Turner JE (1991) Transplantation of 5-bromodeoxyuridine labeled retinal pigmented epithelial cells on Bruch's membrane in the rabbit. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 32:982
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Correspondence to: P. Gouras
Supported by The G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation, Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., The Bedminster Fund, Inc., and The Alcon Research Institute
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gouras, P., Lopez, R., Brittis, M. et al. The ultrastructure of transplanted rabbit retinal epithelium. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 230, 468–475 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00175936
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00175936