Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells protect against retinal ganglion cell loss in aged rats with glaucoma

Figures & data

Figure 1 Design of the visual water box for behavior testing. The box was divided into three parts, ie, a swimming box and two decision chambers. A computer screen at the end of each decision chamber was used to present visual cues. In the right decision chamber, there was a hidden platform as the end point of the swimming test.

Table 1 BMSC transplantation improved RGC survival

	RGC/mm^2	Statistics
Control group (n = 7)	1800 ± 101
Surgery group (n = 7)	720 ± 195	P < 0.01 versus control group
Low transplanted group (n = 7)	1037 ± 164	P < 0.05 versus control and surgery groups
High transplanted group (n = 7)	1249 ± 105	P < 0.01 versus control and surgery groups
		P < 0.05 versus low transplant group

Abbreviations: BMSC, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; RGC, retina ganglion cells.

Figure 2 Fluorogold® counting of surviving retinal ganglion cells. (A) Control group, (B) surgery group, (C) low transplant group, and (D) high transplant group.

Figure 3 Results for visual water box swimming test, showing that the surgery group had a much slower response (longer latency to hidden platform) and that cell transplantation partly rescued this behavior.

Note: *indicates 0.05; **indicates 0.01.

Table 2 BMSC transplantation improved swimming test guided by visual cues

	Percentage of correct arm swimming responses	Statistics
Control group	99.7%
Surgery group	42.4%	P < 0.01 versus control group
Low transplanted group	67.5%	P < 0.05 versus control and surgery groups
High transplanted group	88.3%	P < 0.05 versus control, surgery, and low transplant groups

Abbreviation: BMSC, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.