Experimental Retinal Pigment Epithelium Transplantation using the RPE Sheet

Kang, Ja Heon; Kwak, Hyung Woo

Abstract

To make the human RPE sheet for the ideal RPE transplantation and to compare growth rate and morphology between the fetal RPE cells of different obsteric age (17, 24, 34 wks)and the adult RPE cells (24 yrs). The RPE sheet was made as follows : (1)the use of dispase for separation of RPE sheet from the choroid and culture dish; (2)cell culture and cryopreservation, (3)skin biopsy punch for adequate size of RPE sheet. The transplantation methods were:the transplantation of RPE sheet into the subretinal space of rabbit was performed by micropipet system after vitrectomy. The growth rate and the morphology between fetal RPE cells and adult RPE cells were compared by light microscope and electron microscope (scanning &transmission). The RPE sheet was made successfully by use of dispase, skin biopsy punch and the cryopreservation and transplanted effectively with micropipet system. There were significant differences not in morphology, but in growth rate (population doubling time: 28.9 (17 wks), 29.1 (24 wks), 30.2 (34 wks), 35.4 hours (24 yrs).p<0.05)between fetal and adult RPE cells. The human RPE sheet can be made and transplanted into rabbit successfully and timely. And fetal RPE cells may be more ideal than adult RPE cells for the RPE transplantation with respect to the higher cell growth rate.