ABSTRACT
Introduction: Retinal degeneration had been increased as a common cause of blindness nowadays. Stem cells could be a
promising therapy for treating retinal degeneration.
Aim of the work: To investigate the possible role of BMSCs on the damaged retina resulting from continuous fluorescent
light exposure.
Materials and Methods: Twenty- five albino rats (80- 100) gm were used in this study. Of which, 5 rats were used for
preparation of the BMSCs. The other twenty adult rats were divided into three groups. Rats of the control group were kept in
12 hrs light/ 12 hrs dark. Rats of group II (fluorescent light exposure group) were exposed to two 20W white fluorescent lamps
60 cm length continuously for 2 weeks at an illumination of 500 Lux. Group II rats were examined 8 weeks after fluorescent
light exposure. Group III animals were injected once by PKH 26–labeled BMSCs into the vitreous cavity of the eye at the end
of the second week of fluorescent light exposure and kept for 8 weeks. Retinal specimens were prepared for light (LM) and
electron microscopic (EM) examination. Morphometric and statistical study was performed.
Results: Sections of group II showed thinning and disorganization of outer segments. There were spaces and disorganization
of the cells of the outer and inner nuclear layers. Most ganglion cells had vacuolated cytoplasm and some appeared with dense
nuclei. Most of retinal cells had distorted organelles. Immunohistochemical reaction revealed significant increase in GFAP
immune reaction. Statistical analysis revealed a significant decrease in the thickness of most retinal layers. Meanwhile, group
III retinas showed restoration of most of the histological structure.
Conclusion: BMSCs could ameliorate retinal degeneration resulted from continuous fluorescent light exposure.