Objective To establish a culture method for human fetal retinal progenitor cells (RPC) in vitro. Methods Retinal neuroepithelium of 8-12-week human fetal were isolated and cultured in suspension and adherent methods. The passage cells were cultured and differentiated for 14 days with 5% fetal bovine serum without basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The expressions of RPC and retinal final cells markers before and after the differentiation were detected by immunohistochemical analysis. Results The isolated cells cultured in suspension method congregated as the neurospheres and expressed the neuroectodermal marker nestin, but failed in passage and expansion; while the expression of nestin and serial passage were found in the cells cultured in adherent way. The differentiated passage cells expressed retinal final cells markers including glial fibrillary acid protein,  beta;-tubulin and recoverin. Conclusions RPC derived from human fetal neural retina at the 8th12th week of gestation are capable of expansion and multipotentiality. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2007, 23: 98-100)

Citation： HU Rong,LU Guangxiu,GAO Ling,et al. Isolation and culture of human fetal retinal progenitor cells in vitro. Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases, 2007, 23(2): 98-100. doi: Copy