ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Studies have found that chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans degradation with chondroitinase canpromote the migration of Müller cells on the retina, but whether it could promote the migration of adipose-derivedmesenchymal stem cells in retinal degeneration rats is unclear.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans degradation with chondroitinase on adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell treatment for retinal degeneration in rats.METHODS: Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and cultured. A retinal degeneration ratmodel was established followed by administration of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells+chondroitinase into thesubretinal space. The migration of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and retinal cell apoptosis in rats aftertransplantation were observed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells could be successfully cultured.The labeling rate of BrdU to the human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells was more than 90.0%. At 7 days aftermodeling, the outer nuclear layer of the retina was collapsed, and a large amount of photoreceptor cells were dissected.The outer nuclear layer was attached to the Bruch''s membrane, and the retina was arched. The central retina andperipheral retina were damaged. In normal rats, the retinal layers were clear, and the photoreceptor cells arrangedregularly; and the retinal pigment epithelium was complete. The migration rate of adipose-derived mesenchymal stemcells in adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells+chondroitinase group was higher than that in adipose-derivedmesenchymal stem cells group (P 0.05). These experimental findings show that chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans degradationwith chondroitinase can enhance the migration ability of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on the retina.