Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome Enhancement by Nicotinamide and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide: A New Therapeutic Approach for Retinal Degenerative Diseases

Figure 4

Photoreceptors modifications in porcine NR cultured for 3 days with aMSC-CM under stimulated and stimulated-combined conditions. Representative H-E–stained retina images from (a) freshly isolated NR, (b) control, (c) 24 h-CM, (d) 48 h-CM, (e) aMSC-CM stimulated-combined (PhC 2) with NIC and (f) with NIC+VIP, (g) aMSC-CM stimulated (PhC 3) with NIC and (h) with NIC+VIP. The photoreceptor outer segmentes were absent in all 3-day cultured samples, showing fibrotic-like membranes overlying the photoreceptor nuclei except those exposed to aMSC-CM stimulated-combined NIC+VIP (f), where photoreceptor outer and inner segments and ONL appeared better preserved. (g) NRs exposed to aMSC-CM stimulated NIC had also show photoreceptor outer and inner segments fragments and organized ONL. Scale bar denotes 25 μm ( per group). aMSC: adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells; CM: conditioned medium; H-E: hematoxylin and eosin; INL: inner nuclear layer; IPL: inner plexiform layer; IS: inner segments; NIC: nicotinamide; NR: neuroretina; ONL: outer nuclear layer, OS: outer segments; PhC: pharmaceutical compositions; VIP: vasoactive intestinal peptide.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)