Figure 2From: Retinal pigment epithelial cells secrete neurotrophic factors and synthesize dopamine: possible contribution to therapeutic effects of RPE cell transplantation in Parkinson's diseaseRPE-CM protects the DAergic neurons against the rotenone- and 6-OHDA- induced neuron loss in primary VM cultures. (A) VM neurons treated with CM in the presence of 25 nM rotenone. Scale bar, 10 μm. (B) VM neurons cultured in fresh medium in the presence of rotenone. (C) VM neurons cultured in fresh medium without rotenone. (D) The number of TH-ir neurons in the cultures treated with fresh medium only (Control), with fresh medium in the presence of 25 nM rotenone (Re) and with CM in the presence of 25 nM rotenone (CM+ Re). Data represent the mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05. (E) VM neurons treated with CM in the presence of 40 μM 6-OHDA. (F) VM neurons cultured in fresh medium in the presence of 40 μM 6-OHDA. (G) VM neurons cultured in fresh medium without 6-OHDA. (H) The number of TH-ir neurons in the cultures treated with fresh medium (Control), with fresh medium in the presence of 40 μM 6-OHDA (6-OH) and with CM in the presence of 40 μM 6-OHDA (CM+6-OH). Data represent the mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05.Back to article page