The eye cup, the precursor structure of the retina, was grown from embryonic stem cells by Japanese scientists under the guidance of Yoshiki Sasai from the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology.
“Our research has shown that human embryonic stem cells can spontaneously form the optic cup - the intermediate structure from which the retina of the eye is formed during the development of the embryo,” Yoshiki Sasai explained. - The goblet formed from stem cells, which we have obtained, is two-layer and has the correct spatial structure.
According to the scientist, one of the layers of the grown tissue contained a large number of light-sensitive cells: rods and cones. Since retinal degeneration primarily damages these cells, such tissue can be an ideal material for transplantation.
“Our work allows us to better understand how the eye develops in the human embryo, and also opens a new way for the development of regenerative medicine,” Sasai said.
Recall that almost a year ago, in April 2011, scientists from the same RIKEN Developmental Biology Center raised an artificial eye - with all layers of the retina, pigment epithelium, photoreceptors. But then he was raised from embryonic stem cells of mice.
How serious a breakthrough towards the cyborgization of mankind has been made by scientists is the fact that the retina of the eye is not inferior in structure to the cerebral cortex. It has ten layers and numerous contacts between cells, which provides phenomenal light sensitivity. The retina cannot repair itself. Therefore, burns, tears or detachments are compensated for by intact areas. And in the embryonic retina, cells after transplantation can restore the function of the eye. The main thing is for the cells to take root in someone else's eye. And the Japanese scientists did just that.