Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) showed that a team of scientists, led by David M. Gamm, created in the laboratory photoreceptor cells. They are able to connect to other ocular cells, forming nerve synapses.
In other words, the team managed to create cells capable of joining other cells already present in the eye human. This makes it possible to treat many eye diseases.
The scientists’ work was delivered to PNAS for editing on August 5, 2022. But the publication took place earlier this year, on January 4.
organoid creation
The research is entitled “Re-formation of synaptic connectivity in dissociated human stem cell-derived retinal organoid cultures”. In literal translation: “Reformation of synaptic connectivity in cultures of retinal organoids derived from dissociated human stem cells”.
The scientists responsible for the research had already carried out a similar experiment in 2014. At the time, they managed, through the use of stem cells, to create a organoide capable of simulating the function and shape of a real retina.
However, the difference of the new experience was able to assimilate other ocular cells that are not part of the organoid they created.
When they succeeded in creating the organoid, Gamm and the other researchers needed to understand whether the set of cells created would be able to make their connection again, in case of separation. Or even if they would be able to interconnect with another set of cells with the same function. If this were possible, the set of photoreceptor cells could join human retinas to recover part of the functions lost by some type of illness.
For this to happen, it is necessary that the cells created in the laboratory are able to carry out the union through the axons, which are the extensions of the cells that unite to each other. But, in addition to the connection via axons, they need to create their neural network through synapses. In short, axons are like wires that connect cells, and synapses are the energy that passes through these “wires”. This energy is the commands or language of the cells.
To test the synapses created, the researchers introduced the rabies virus into the process and left it to act for a week. If the experiment was successful, the virus would migrate through the cells using the synapses as a movement channel.
Finally, as expected by Gamm and his colleagues, the virus continued to migrate between the cells during the week in which it was introduced, confirming the success of the experiment.
