Long-term neuronal survival, regeneration, and transient target reconnection after optic nerve crush and mesenchymal stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND: Retina and/or optic nerve injury may cause irreversible blindness, due to degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. We and others have previously shown that the intravitreal injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) protects injured retinal ganglion cells and stimulates their regeneration after optic nerve injury, but the long-term effects of this therapy are still unknown. METHODS: We injected rat MSC (rMSC) intravitreally in adult (3–5 months) Lister Hooded rats of either sex after optic nerve crush. Retinal ganglion cell survival, axonal regeneration, and reconnection were analyzed 60 and 240 days after crush by immunohistochemistry for Tuj1, anterograde labeling with cholera-toxin B and by immunohistochemistry for nerve growth factor-induced gene A (NGFI-A, driven by light stimulation) in the superior colliculus after a cycle of light deprivation-stimulation. Visual behaviors (optokinetic reflex, looming response, and preference for dark) were analyzed 70 days after crush. RESULTS: rMSC treatment doubled the number of surviving retinal ganglion cells, preferentially of a larger subtype, and of axons regenerating up to 0.5 mm. Some axons regenerated to the lateral geniculate nucleus and superior colliculus. NGFI-A+ cells were doubled in rMSC-treated animals 60 days after crush, but equivalent to vehicle-injected animals 240 days after crush, suggesting that newly formed synapses degenerated. Animals did not recover visual behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that rMSC-induced neuroprotection is sustained at longer time points. Although rMSCs promoted long-term neuroprotection and long-distance axon regeneration, the reconnection of retinal ganglion cells with their targets was transitory, indicating that they need additional stimuli to make stable reconnections. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13287-019-1226-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.