A recent study has brought scientists a step closer to treating damaged cells in the eye and possibly preventing blindness. Scientists injected stem cells from a specific area of the brain into the eyes of rats with degradation of the retina, when injected the cells migrated to the retina and began to take on characteristics of retinal cells. The cells did not fully mature into photoreceptive cells, however, they did begin to show signs of light-sensing behaviour. The researchers hope to use the results gained in the experiment to develop ways of replacing dying cells in the human eye responsible for diseases like macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the elderly.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, September 200
