The Effect of Dental Stem Cell Conditioned Medium on the Thickness of the Damaged Retina in Rat

Abstract

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells and their secretions contain various factors that have anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of surface environment of stem cells extracted from apical papilla (SCAP) on H2O2-induced retinal toxicity in rats. Methods: Twenty healthy rats were selected for this study, all of which underwent intravitreal H2O2 injection in days 1 and 2 of the right eye. They were then randomly divided into two groups: no other intervention was performed in the first group, but in the second group, on the fifth day, the conditioned medium adjacent to the stem cell of apex of the dental papilla were injected into the vitreous of the right eye. The left eye was considered as the control. After two weeks, all rats were euthanized and histological evaluation was performed. Findings: Retinal thickness in the second group (236.8 ± 20.8 microns) was closer to the control group compared to the first group (199.9 ± 65.3 microns) which was statistically significant. Conclusion: This study showed that the conditioned medium adjacent to SCAP contains secretory factors that can have a protective effect on damaged retinal cells and reduce the rate of retinal atrophy. © 2022 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.