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Updated: Aug 21, 2026
Performing Subretinal Injections in Rodents to Deliver Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells in Suspension
Published on: January 23, 2015
[Comparison of microinjection methods for subretinal RPE transplantation in the rat]
Zhao-hui Zhou1, Henry J Kaplan
1Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing 304th Clinical Department of General Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100037, China. Zhouzhh@hotmail.com
Objective:
To compare iatrogenic damage to the host eye caused by different injection techniques for transplantation RPE into the subretinal space of Lewis rats.
Methods:
A total of 45 eyes from Lewis rats were divided into three groups and immortalized hTERT-RPE1 cells (clontechniques) transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP) was injected into the subretinal space. The injection was given by using Hamilton syringe, Eppendorf repeat micro-pipettor, or a pediatric syringe infusion pump in different groups respectively. Iatrogenic damage to the host eye was evaluated by light microscopy.
Results:
No damage to the host eye was observed in 12 of 15 eyes injected with the syringe infusion pump. In contrast, severe or mild damage was detected in 14 of 15 eyes after injections using either the Hamilton syringe or the Eppendorf micro-pipettor.
Conclusions:
The syringe infusion pump minimizes iatrogenic damage to the host eye during RPE transplantation into the subretinal space of the rat. The slow and controlled fluid infusion provided by the low-geared electric motor of the pump is presumably beneficial during the surgical procedure.
