Morphologic and Electrophysiologic Study of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Transplantation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

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1) The retinal pigment epithelium cells together with the choroid were obtained from eyeballs through the scleral opening successfully accompanied with minor bleedings. Subsequent retinal detachment was not observed by the fundoscopic examination.2) Resected specimens were enzymaticaly treated with collagenase in order to isolate the pigment epithelial cells. Marked intra- and inter-experimental differences were observed in isolating the cells, and the repeatable method for isolation has not been established yet.3) The retinal pigment epithelial cells derived from peripheral areas were transplanted in the subretinal space in normal rabbits in cell suspension or in a form of a single sheet transvitreally. No serious complication such as immune rejection was observed postoperatively, confirming the safety of the transplantation surgery.4) The TGF-beta neutralizing antibody successfully suppresses the development of experimental proliferative vitreoretinopathy in rabbit eyes.5) Electroretinograms were examined in patients with various retinal diseases to study retinal function, in order to compare with those in experimental animals.6) An LED built-in electrode was developed and tested in human eyes.