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Graft-host connections in long-term full-thickness embryonic rabbit retinal transplants

Ghosh, F LU ; Bruun, A LU and Ehinger, B LU orcid (1999) In Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 40(1). p.32-126
Abstract

PURPOSE: To establish neuronal connections in the rod and cone pathway between laminated rabbit retinal transplants and the host retina.

METHODS: Fourteen adult rabbits received a complete full-thickness embryonic transplant. After survival times of 3 to 10 months, the retinas were studied under light microscope and with immunohistochemistry. Antibodies against protein kinase C (PKC), parvalbumin, and calbindin were used to label rod bipolar cells, AII amacrine cells, and cone bipolar cells, respectively. The AB5 antibody was used to label ganglion cells.

RESULTS: The transplants displayed laminated morphology with layers parallel to the host retinal pigment epithelium. In the oldest specimens (10 months after surgery),... (More)

PURPOSE: To establish neuronal connections in the rod and cone pathway between laminated rabbit retinal transplants and the host retina.

METHODS: Fourteen adult rabbits received a complete full-thickness embryonic transplant. After survival times of 3 to 10 months, the retinas were studied under light microscope and with immunohistochemistry. Antibodies against protein kinase C (PKC), parvalbumin, and calbindin were used to label rod bipolar cells, AII amacrine cells, and cone bipolar cells, respectively. The AB5 antibody was used to label ganglion cells.

RESULTS: The transplants displayed laminated morphology with layers parallel to the host retinal pigment epithelium. In the oldest specimens (10 months after surgery), laminated layers of graft and host approached each other and almost reconstructed the normal retinal appearance. The ganglion and cone bipolar cells of the host survived well, as was seen with AB5 and calbindin double-labeling. Connections between cone bipolar cells in the graft and ganglion cells in the host were not common. PKC-labeled rod bipolar cells and parvalbumin-labeled AII amacrine cells of host and graft showed sprouting activity directed toward an intermediate plexiform layer located between the graft and host. In specimens double-labeled with PKC and parvalbumin, this intermediate plexiform layer was seen to contain numerous PKC- and parvalbumin-labeled processes. Direct connections between rod bipolar and AII amacrine cells in host and graft were seen in the 10-month specimens.

CONCLUSIONS: Full-thickness embryonic transplants survive for at least 10 months, and normal laminated morphology develops. Host and graft fuse and together contribute nerve cell processes to an intermediate plexiform layer. Direct graft-host contacts are also present between neuronal types that in the normal retina participate in the rod pathway.

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published
subject
keywords
Animals, Calbindins, Fetal Tissue Transplantation, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect, Interneurons, Nerve Net, Neural Pathways, Neurons, Parvalbumins, Protein Kinase C, Rabbits, Retina, Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells, Retinal Ganglion Cells, Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells, S100 Calcium Binding Protein G, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
in
Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
volume
40
issue
1
pages
32 - 126
publisher
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:0032906188
  • pmid:9888435
ISSN
0146-0404
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
122a347a-bd94-4d31-813e-5810ba5fe672
date added to LUP
2017-05-17 11:38:21
date last changed
2024-01-13 21:12:24
@article{122a347a-bd94-4d31-813e-5810ba5fe672,
  abstract     = {{<p>PURPOSE: To establish neuronal connections in the rod and cone pathway between laminated rabbit retinal transplants and the host retina.</p><p>METHODS: Fourteen adult rabbits received a complete full-thickness embryonic transplant. After survival times of 3 to 10 months, the retinas were studied under light microscope and with immunohistochemistry. Antibodies against protein kinase C (PKC), parvalbumin, and calbindin were used to label rod bipolar cells, AII amacrine cells, and cone bipolar cells, respectively. The AB5 antibody was used to label ganglion cells.</p><p>RESULTS: The transplants displayed laminated morphology with layers parallel to the host retinal pigment epithelium. In the oldest specimens (10 months after surgery), laminated layers of graft and host approached each other and almost reconstructed the normal retinal appearance. The ganglion and cone bipolar cells of the host survived well, as was seen with AB5 and calbindin double-labeling. Connections between cone bipolar cells in the graft and ganglion cells in the host were not common. PKC-labeled rod bipolar cells and parvalbumin-labeled AII amacrine cells of host and graft showed sprouting activity directed toward an intermediate plexiform layer located between the graft and host. In specimens double-labeled with PKC and parvalbumin, this intermediate plexiform layer was seen to contain numerous PKC- and parvalbumin-labeled processes. Direct connections between rod bipolar and AII amacrine cells in host and graft were seen in the 10-month specimens.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Full-thickness embryonic transplants survive for at least 10 months, and normal laminated morphology develops. Host and graft fuse and together contribute nerve cell processes to an intermediate plexiform layer. Direct graft-host contacts are also present between neuronal types that in the normal retina participate in the rod pathway.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ghosh, F and Bruun, A and Ehinger, B}},
  issn         = {{0146-0404}},
  keywords     = {{Animals; Calbindins; Fetal Tissue Transplantation; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Interneurons; Nerve Net; Neural Pathways; Neurons; Parvalbumins; Protein Kinase C; Rabbits; Retina; Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells; Retinal Ganglion Cells; Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells; S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{32--126}},
  publisher    = {{Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Inc.}},
  series       = {{Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science}},
  title        = {{Graft-host connections in long-term full-thickness embryonic rabbit retinal transplants}},
  volume       = {{40}},
  year         = {{1999}},
}