Researchers at University of Alberta have found that stem cells from zebrafish can be used to repair damaged retinas and restore eyesight in humans.
Researchers led by Ted Allison found that zebrafish stem cells can be made to selectively regenerate damaged photoreceptor cells. Allison said that while almost all of the advances achieved in regenerating photoreceptor cells are limited to repairing rods, photoreceptors which provide night vision, it was not known whether zebrafish stem cells will be able to regenerate cones, which provides a full color view during daylight.
“This is the first time in an animal research model that stem cells have only repaired damaged cones. For people with damaged eyesight, repairing the cones is most important because it would restore daytime color vision”, Allison said.
Source-Medindia
