Skip to main content
Log in

Retinal pigment epithelium implantation in the rabbit: technique and morphology

  • Laboratory investigations
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a major component of many degenerative disorders of the retina. We have developed a modified pars plana technique for subretinal implantation of homologous, cultured, carbon-loaded RPE cells in the rabbit. The natural history and morphologic behavior of the implanted RPE cells for up to 6 weeks after transplantation were observed in successful procedures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aramant R, Seiler M, Ehinger B, Bergström A, Gustavii B, Brundin P, Adolph A (1990) Xenografting human fetal retina to adult rat retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31 [Suppl]:594

    Google Scholar 

  2. Brittis M, Gouras P, Lopez R, Sullivan B, Kjeldbye H (1988) Retinal epithelial allografts of longer duration facilitated by cyclosporine. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 29 [Suppl]:241

    Google Scholar 

  3. Brittis M, Lopez R, Kjeldbye H, Sullivan B, Gouras P (1989) Long term pigment epithelial transplantation in the rabbit with immunosuppression. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30 [Suppl]:209

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bryan JA III, Campochiaro PA (1986) A retinal pigment epithelial cell-derived growth factor(s). Arch Ophthalmol 104:422–425

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chu HH, Berman DH, Khan YS, Garrett CW, Zhang BX, Garcia CA (1990) Relative immune privilege of rat-rabbit RPE xenograft in the subretinal space. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31 [Suppl]:596

    Google Scholar 

  6. Connor T Glaser B (1987) RPE cells can simultaneously release inhibitors and stimulators of endothelial cell proliferation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 28 [Suppl]:203

  7. Del Cerro M, Lazar E, Grover A, Gallagher MJ, Sladek CD, Chu J, Del Cerro C (1990) Intraocular transplantation and culture of human embryonic retinal cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31 [Suppl]:593

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gartner S, Henkind P (1982) Pathology of retinitis pigmentosa. Ophthalmology 89:1425–1432

    Google Scholar 

  9. Glaser BM (1988) Extracellular modulating factors and the control of intraocular neovascularization. Arch Ophthalmol 106:603–607

    Google Scholar 

  10. Glaser BM (1989) Extracellular modulating factors and the control of intraocular neovascularization: an overview. In: Ryan SJ, Glaser BM, Michels RG (eds) Retina, vol III. Mosby, St. Louis, pp 503–514

    Google Scholar 

  11. Glaser BM, Campochiaro PA, Davis JL Jr, Sato M (1985) Retinal pigment epithelial cells release an inhibitor of neovascularization. Arch Ophthalmol 103:1870–1875

    Google Scholar 

  12. Glaser B, Davis J, Hyer K, Jerdan J, Hewitt T, Krause W (1987) Purification of a diffusible RPE-derived protease inhibitor and localization within Bruch's membrane: possible role in the control of intraocular neovascularization. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 28 [Suppl]:49

    Google Scholar 

  13. Glaser BM, Adamson J, Lansing M, Jerdan J, Davis J (1989) A urokinase inhibitor derived from human RPE cells inhibits neovascularization in vivo. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30 [Suppl]:395

    Google Scholar 

  14. Gouras P, Lopez R (1989) Transplantation of retinal epithelial cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30:1681–1683

    Google Scholar 

  15. Gouras P, Flood MT, Eggers HM, Kjeldbye HM (1983) Transplantation of human retinal epithelium to Bruch's membrane of monkey eye. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 24 [Suppl]:142

    Google Scholar 

  16. 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

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Lane C, Boulton M, Bridgman A, Marshall J (1988) Transplantation of retinal pigment epithelium in the miniature pig. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 29 [Suppl]:405

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lane C, Boulton M, Marshall J (1989) Transplantation of retinal pigment epithelium using a pars plana approach. Eye 3:27–32

    Google Scholar 

  19. Li L, Turner JE (1988a) Transplantation of retinal pigment epithelial cells to immature and adult rat hosts: short- and long-term survival characteristics. Exp Eye Res 47:771–785

    Google Scholar 

  20. Li L, Turner JE (1988b) Inherited retinal dystrophy in the RCS rat: prevention of photoreceptor degeneration by pigment epithelial cell transplantation. Exp Eye Res 47:911–917

    Google Scholar 

  21. Li L, Turner JE (1989) RPE cell transplantation in the retina of RCS dystrophic rats: EM and long-term survival characteristics of rescued photoreceptor cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30 [Suppl]:209

    Google Scholar 

  22. Linxi L, Turner JE (1990) Optimum conditions for long term photoreceptor cell rescue in RCS rats: the necessity for healthy RPE transplants. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31 [Suppl]:595

    Google Scholar 

  23. 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 28:1131–1137

    Google Scholar 

  24. 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

    Google Scholar 

  25. Lopez R, Gouras P, Kjeldbye H, Sullivan B, Brittis M, Das SR (1990) Transplantation of human RPE cells into the monkey. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31 [Suppl]:594

    Google Scholar 

  26. Machemer R (1978) Pathogenesis and classification of massive periretinal proliferation. Br J Ophthalmol 62:737–747

    Google Scholar 

  27. Miller H, Miller B, Ryan SJ (1986) The role of retinal pigment epithelium in the involution of subretinal neovascularization. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 27:1644–1652

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Peyman GA, Blinder KJ, Paris CL, Desai U, Alturki W, Nelson NC Jr (1991) RPE transplantation for age-related macular degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 32:712

    Google Scholar 

  29. Reppucci V, Gobuloff E, Wapner F, Syniuta L, Brittis M, Sullivan B, Gouras P (1988) Retinal pigment epithelium transplantation in the RCS rat. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 29 [Suppl]:144

    Google Scholar 

  30. Sarks SH (1973) New vessel formation beneath the retinal pigment epithelium in senile eyes. Br J Ophthalmol 57:951–965

    Google Scholar 

  31. Sarks SH (1979) Changes in the region of the choriocapillaris in ageing and degeneration. In: Shimizu K, Oosterhuis JA (eds) Ophthalmology. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, pp 228–238

    Google Scholar 

  32. Schweigerer L, Malerstein B, Neufeld G, Gospodarowicz D (1987) Basic fibroblast growth factor is synthesized in cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 143:934–940

    Google Scholar 

  33. Sheedlo HJ, Li L, Turner JE (1989) Functional and structural characteristics of photoreceptor cells rescued in RPE-cell grafted retinas of RCS dystrophic rats. Exp Eye Res 48:841–854

    Google Scholar 

  34. Weber P, Weiter J, Dorey CK, Schepens CL (1989) Autologous tranplantation [sic] of retinal pigment epithelium in the rabbit. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30 [Suppl]:209

    Google Scholar 

  35. Wongpichedchai S, Weber P, Dorey CK, Weiter JJ (1990) Comparison of external and internal approaches for RPE transplantation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31 [Suppl]:593

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Supported in part by NIH grants EY-01545 and EY-03040, the latter a Core Grant for Vision Research

Offprint requests to: S. Ryan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

El Dirini, A.A., Wang, Hm., Ogden, T.E. et al. Retinal pigment epithelium implantation in the rabbit: technique and morphology. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 230, 292–300 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00176307

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00176307

Keywords

Navigation