Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Activation of Reparative Processes in the Brain and Retina

In order to simulate apoptotic processes in the central nervous system and retina, one eyeball was enucleated in each of the male Wistar rats ( n = 10) aged 10–12 weeks. Simultaneously, in one of the series of experiments ( n = 5), 100 000 PKH67-labeled mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in 100 µL of buffer solution were injected parabulbarically on the side of an intact eye. In another series of experiments on rats ( n = 5), immediately after enucleation, on one side of the eye, 100 000 PKH67-labeled MSCs in 100 µL of buffer solution were injected intranasally into the upper part of the nasal cavity. Three days after enucleation, brain and retinal slices were prepared on a cryostat. In both series of experiments, the distribution of fluorescent MSCs was determined in the mesencephalic quadruplet bodies, diencephalic lateral geniculate body, and intact eye’s retina. It was inferred that intranasal perineural implantation of MSCs, due to its simplicity and efficiency, is a promising alternative method of MSC delivery into the retina of patients with signs of dystrophic and degenerative processes.