Differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cells transplanted into the subretinal space of sodium iodate-injected rats.

The differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was investigated in a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) damage model induced by the administration of sodium iodate. Cultured rat MSCs were transfected with enhanced green fluorescent protein and transplanted into the subretinal space of rats injected 4 days earlier with sodium iodate. Immunofluorescence analysis was performed 5 weeks later. The transduction efficiency was 99.9%. Viable MSCs were detected 5 weeks after transplantation, mainly in the subretinal space. The cells expressed pan-cytokeratin, glial fibrillary acidic protein and rhodopsin. Bone marrow MSCs transplanted into the subretinal space of sodium iodate-injected rats have the ability to differentiate into RPE, photoreceptor and glial lineage cells.