Performing Subretinal Injections in Rodents to Deliver Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells in Suspension

Summary

Here we present a community accepted protocol in multimedia format for subretinally injecting a bolus of RPE cells in rats and mice. This approach can be used for determining rescue potentials, safety profiles, and survival capacities of grafted RPE cells upon implantation in animal models of retinal degeneration.

Abstract

The conversion of light into electrical impulses occurs in the outer retina and is accomplished largely by rod and cone photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. RPE provide critical support for photoreceptors and death or dysfunction of RPE cells is characteristic of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of permanent vision loss in people age 55 and older. While no cure for AMD has been identified, implantation of healthy RPE in diseased eyes may prove to be an effective treatment, and large numbers of RPE cells can be readily generated from pluripotent stem cells. Several interesting questions regarding the safety and efficacy of RPE cell delivery can still be examined in animal models, and well-accepted protocols used to inject RPE have been developed. The technique described here has been used by multiple groups in various studies and involves first creating a hole in the eye with a sharp needle. Then a syringe with a blunt needle loaded with cells is inserted through the hole and passed through the vitreous until it gently touches the RPE. Using this injection method, which is relatively simple and requires minimal equipment, we achieve consistent and efficient integration of stem cell-derived RPE cells in between the host RPE that prevents significant amount of photoreceptor degeneration in animal models. While not part of the actual protocol, we also describe how to determine the extent of the trauma induced by the injection, and how to verify that the cells were injected into the subretinal space using in vivo imaging modalities. Finally, the use of this protocol is not limited to RPE cells; it may be used to inject any compound or cell into the subretinal space.

Introduction

The sensory retina is organized in functional tiers of neurons, glia, and endothelial cells. Photoreceptors at the back of the retina are activated by light; through phototransduction they convert photons into electrical signals that are refined by interneurons and transmitted to the visual cortex in the brain. Phototransduction cannot occur without the coordinated efforts of Mueller glia and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. RPE are organized in a monolayer directly behind the photoreceptors and perform multiple and diverse functions integral to photoreceptor function and homeostasis. In fact, RPE and photoreceptors are so co-dependent that they are considered ....

Protocol

NOTE: All animals were treated in accordance with the ethical guidelines established by the Scripps Research Institute.

1. Preparation of Materials for the Injection (~20 min)

1. Pre-warm cell dissociation solution (preferably one that is inactivated through dilution, not with serum), sterile PBS, and culture media (Table 1).
2. Sterilize the syringe with a blunt needle by disassembling it and boiling the parts in water for 15 min.

2. Preparation of the RPE Cells for Injection (~30 min to 1 hr)

1. Detach the RPE....

Results

We can deliver a suspension of RPE cells into the subretinal space of rodents quickly and consistently using the technique described in this manuscript. While not required, traumas can be greatly minimized using the setup shown with a micromanipulator in Figure 1A&B. Hold the rodent as shown in Figure 1C for temporary proptosis. The steps are the same if performed with the micromanipulator or by hand; these are depicted in the cartoon in Figure 1D. When performed cle.......

Discussion

In this article we describe a relatively simple method for performing subretinal injections of RPE cells in suspension in rats and mice. The protocol is easy to learn and more experience with the technique will translate in fewer traumas (Figure 3; this represents one of the better injections), especially if a micromanipulator is used (Figure 1A). Any trauma can be monitored in vivo with a cSLO and OCT system (Figure 2) if available. If higher resolution and les.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
2-Mercaptoethanol (55 mM)	Gibco	21985-023	50 ml x 1
Cell Scapers	VWR	89260-222	Case x 1
CellTracker Green CMFDA	Molecular Probes	C34552	50 µg x 20
DPBS, no calcium, no magnesium	Gibco	14190-144	500 ml x 1
Fast Green	Sigma-Aldrich	F7258	25 g x 1
Genteal Geldrops Moderate to Severe Lubricant Eye Drops	Walmart	4060941	25 ml x 1
Hamilton Model 62 RN SYR	Hamilton	87942	Syringe x 1
Hamilton Needle 33 G, 0.5", point 3 (304 stainless steel)	Hamilton	7803-05	Needles x 6
Knockout DMEM	Gibco	10829-018	500 ml x 1
KnockOut Serum Replacement	Gibco	10828-028	500 ml x 1
L-Glutamine 200 mM	Gibco	25030-081	100 ml x 1
Magnetic Stand	Leica Biosystems	39430216	Stand x 1
MEM Non-Essential Amino Acids Solution 100X	Gibco	11140-050	100 ml x 1
Micromanipulator	Leica Biosystems	3943001	Manipulator x 1
Penicillin-Streptomycin (10,000 U/ml)	Gibco	15140-122	100 ml x 1
Slip Tip Syringes without Needles BD  (3 ml)	VWR	BD309656	Pack x 1
Specialty-Use Needles BD  (30 G, 1")	VWR	BD305128	Box x 1
TrypLE Express Enzyme (1X), no phenol red	Gibco	12604013	100 ml x 1