INTRAVITREAL NEUROECTODERMAL STEM CELL THERAPY AFTER OPTIC NERVE INJURY

Optic nerve injury results in severe clinical outcomes, including retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration, visual field constriction, and total vision loss. This study aimed to quantify RGC depletion following injury and evaluate the neuroprotective potential of intravitreally transplanted neuroectodermal stem cells (NE-TR-4C). Utilizing female Sprague-Dawley rats (10–12 weeks old, 220–250 g), we induced left optic nerve contusion via forceps and subsequently divided the subjects into three cohorts: a stem cell-treated group, a medium-injected control (HDMEM), and an injury-only group. Following survival periods of 1, 2, or 12 weeks, we assessed RGC survival, glial reactions (astrocytes and microglia), the fate of transplanted cells, and structural changes in the optic nerve and disc, alongside visual performance. While the injury-only and medium-treated groups exhibited a continuous, significant decline in RGCs, the stem cell intervention effectively mitigated this loss, likely by modulating astrocytic and microglial activation. Transplanted cells survived and formed clusters near the retina, showing differentiation toward a neuronal lineage without direct integration into retinal layers. Notably, stem cell treatment preserved higher fiber density in the optic nerve and led to significant improvements in dark-chamber visual behavior compared to controls. No major differences were found in the optic disc across groups. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that intravitreal NE-TR-4C stem cell transplantation can rescue degenerating retinal ganglion cells and promote essential neuroprotection and regeneration, offering a promising therapeutic avenue for traumatic optic neuropathies and related visual impairments.