Zebrafish Study Reveals Possible Blindness Cure
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Recent scientific study of the capacity that zebrafish have to regenerate damaged retinas has revealed possibilities to restore vision for humans. Experimental treatment for blindness could commence within five years.
Photo Catbaby
British researchers claim they have successfully lab grown a form of adult stem cells replicating those found in the eyes of fish and mammals that develops into neurons in the retina, reports Yahoo News.
Future treatment would involve injecting the cells into the eye for cure of diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetes-related blindness, according to Astrid Limb of University College London’s (UCL) Institute of Ophthalmology.
The duty of the retina is to send messages to the brain. Damage to the retina is accountable for the majority of cases of sight loss.
“Our findings have enormous potential.” Limb said. “It could help in all diseases where the neurons are damaged, which is basically nearly every disease of the eye.”
Limb and colleagues studied ‘Mueller glial’ cells in the eyes of people aged between 18 months to 91 years. They were able to 
cultivate the cells into all types of neurons found in the retina and were able to grow them easily in the lab.
Testing in rats with diseased retinas was successful to migrate the cells into the retina which took on the characteristics of the surrounding neurons. The team is working on the same approach for humans. Photo top Statico, bottom Anchovy
“We very much hope that we could do autologous transplants within five years.” Limb told Reuters.
Autologous transplants will be performed on a trial basis, which involves manipulating cells and injecting them back into the person’s eye. Limb hopes it will also be possible to transplant the cells from one person to another.
“Because they are so easy to grow, we could make stem cell banks and have cell lines available to the general population, subject to typing as with blood transfusions.” she said.
Working with Mueller glial cells is one example of research with potential for eye disease treatment with stem cells, but another team from UCL and Moorfield’s Eye Hospital said they’re also working to repair damaged retinas with cells derived from embryonic stem cells.
Tags:blind blindness cell cells cure embryonic Mueller glial research science stem study transplant transplants
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Stem cell research has achieved a great deal over the past few years, and this could be another amazing feat and give vision back to so many people around the world. There really is so much potential there.
Another great post….wouldn’t expect anything less
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Thanks Colin
It’s very exciting news! I’ve been reading of quite a number research articles for applications of stem cells, even for repairing major human organs. The next several years could prove remarkable advancements!
that is simply incredible.
the things we can learn from wildlife.
just like salamanders and regrowing limbs.
they are doing testing on that,
to try and make it possible,
within 20 years for humans to regrow limbs.
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Glaucoma has damaged my mother eye, my senior brother, and also has affeted the whole family. We need to know if the research is due to be administered. I want you to email meil if you have solution.
Fab