| v> | | | | In addition to growing the cells in the lab and |
| The ability of zebrafish to regenerate damaged | | | | transplanting them back into the eye, the |
| retinas has given science a clue about restoring | | | | researchers are looking at ways to stimulate |
| human vision. This could lead to a treatment for | | | | growth and influence the eye to repair itself using |
| blindness within five years. | | | | its own cells. Using one’s own cells rather |
| Zebra fish may open up an opportunity in | | | | than a donor’s has the advantage that the |
| preventing, or reversing blindness. A special type | | | | immune system is less likely to reject the |
| of cell found in the eye of zebra fish has been | | | | treatment. Although Muller glial cells are present in |
| found to be very important in regenerating the | | | | the human eye, it is not clear why they do not |
| retina, and restoring vision even after extensive | | | | automatically repair the retina. It is possible that |
| damage. These stem cells are called Muller glial | | | | internal mechanisms exist in the normal adult |
| cells, and scientists believe they may be able to | | | | retina that prevents these cells from dividing and |
| use these cells to regenerate damaged retinas in | | | | replicating. The next step is to identify which |
| humans. The retina is the part of the eye that | | | | factors are responsible for blocking the |
| receives light, and transmits images to the brain. | | | | regeneration. |
| When damaged through Glaucoma, Macular | | | | Researchers hope that this research may lead to |
| Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy to name a | | | | a treatment within five to ten years, for cells |
| few, the individual loses their vision permanently. | | | | isolated from a person’s own eye. |
| Just why zebra fish have an abundance of these | | | | However, the need to overcome the immune |
| adult stem cells to regenerate their retinas, while | | | | response for transplantation of a donor’s |
| they are very rare in humans remains a mystery. | | | | cells means that this second approach would take |
| British researchers have successfully grown in the | | | | longer. In any case, a treatment for diseases such |
| lab this type of adult stem cell that develops into | | | | as macular degeneration, glaucoma and |
| neurons in the retina. These cells could be injected | | | | diabetes-related blindness seems to be right |
| into the eye as a treatment for retina damaging | | | | around the corner. Dr Astrid Limb, who led the |
| diseases. When tested in rats with diseased | | | | study states. Our findings have enormous |
| retinas, the cells migrated into the retina and took | | | | potential.’ It may be possible to store |
| on the characteristics of the surrounding neurons. | | | | the cells in a cell bank and transplant them into |
| Researchers are now looking at developing this | | | | the eye or to use cells from a person’s |
| approach for use in the human eye. | | | | own eye.’ . |