Oligo-differentiated ‘RSCs’ show slight elevated levels of photoreceptor-specific genes, but fail to generate photoreceptors.

Abstract

<p>Cultivated peripheral ‘RSCs’ subjected to the full oligodendrocyte differentiation protocol showed a slight increase in the expression of the retina-specific genes <i>Chx10</i>, <i>Rax</i>, <i>Otx2</i>, <i>Crx</i>, <i>rhodopsin</i> and <i>RXRgamma</i> as analysed by Q-PCR albeit at very low absolute levels (A). Immunocytochemical analysis of ‘RSCs’ subjected to oligodendrocyte differentiation <i>in vitro</i> did not reveal positive signals for rhodopsin (red) or recoverin (white) proteins and therefore no evidence for generation of photoreceptors (B). Also following transplantation of oligo-primed ‘RSCs’ (C; green) into the subretinal space of degenerative P347S mice (C) donor cells (green) did not show immunopositivity for the photoreceptor marker recoverin (red). Nuclear DAPI staining is shown in blue, rhodopsin localization in red, recoverin localization in white (B). Scale bars: 50 µm (B). Abbreviations: DAPI, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole.</p