Abstract Objectives: Transplantation of stem cells is one of the approaches to treat retinal diseases. Our objective was to determine whether adipose-derived stem cell transplant can survive and migrate in the injured retina using a sodium iodate model for the pigmented retinal epithelium injury. Materials and Methods: The adipose-derived stem cells were isolated from male albino Sprague-Dawley rats and labeled with DiI so as to track the transplants in the subretinal space. Retinal pigmented epithelium damage was induced by retro-orbital sinus sodium iodate injection (40 mg/kg) into albino Sprague- Dawley rats. Four weeks after transplantation, the eyeballs were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and cut with cryostat. The eyeballs were serially sectioned along the vertical meridian. Cryosections were from the full length of the retina and passing through the optic nerve head. The survival and migration of transplanted cells were assessed. Results: Sodium iodate selectively destroyed the retinal pigmented epithelium layer. The transplanted cells incorporated into the retinal pigmented epithelium layer, perhaps differentiating into a retinal pigmented epithelium phenotype. The transplanted cells were located in the subretinal space; after 4 weeks, some were observed in the retinal pigmented epithelium layer. Conclusions: We found that adipose-derived stem cells survived for 4 weeks after transplantation and migrated into the retinal pigmented epithelium layer. Key words: Cytotherapy, Eye disorders, Retinal disease, Retinal pigmented epithelium layer Introduction Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) dysfunction has been linked to many devastating eye disorders, including age-related macular degeneration and hereditary disorders such as Stargardt disease and retinitis pigmentosa. 1 The integrity of the RPE is essential for retinal function and visual health. The RPE consists of a monolayer of cuboidal cells that separates the photoreceptors and the choroid, forming the blood-retina barrier via tight junctions. It serves an integral function in the visual cycle by phagocytosis of the rod and the cone outer segments following shedding into the subretinal space and the production of paracrine factors for the retina. The RPE is also responsible for movement of ions and water so as to maintain a proper state of dehydration for visual clarity, and its pigmentation absorbs stray light that would otherwise degrade the visual image. 2,3 Pigmentation of the RPE layer is due to the presence of melanosomes, which are organelles containing the light-absorbing pigment melanin. The retinal pigment cells are considered to be postmitotic cells at normal conditions. 4 They can regenerate and proliferate in an injured retina. 5 In addition, a low dose of sodium iodate could induce a regenerative mechanism 6 ; however, failure of regeneration has been reported with high doses, which could be due to either the retinal stem cells 7 or the marginal RPE cells. 8 Therefore, a high-dose model can be useful in evaluating replacement cell therapy for restoring lost cells. However, the success of stem cell therapy is highly dependent on the ability of donor cells to survive, migrate, differentiate, and integrate into the desired location. On the other hand, mesenchymal stem cells, multipotent cells, are a potential autologous source Copyright © Başkent University 2017 Printed in Turkey. All Rights Reserved. Survival and Migration of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Transplanted in the Injured Retina Hamid Aboutaleb Kadkhodaeian, 1 Taki Tiraihi, 1 Hamid Ahmadieh, 2 Hossein Ziaei Ardakani, 2 Narsis Daftarian, 2 Taher Taheri 3 From the 1 Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran; and 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Labbafinejad Medical Center, Tehran, Iran; and the 3 Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran Acknowledgements: The project was funded by Shefa Neuroscience Research Center at Khatam Al-Anbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. We are grateful for the support of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. We also express our deep gratitude for Mrs. H. H. AliAkbar for editing the manuscript. Corresponding author: Taki Tiraihi, Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, PO Box 14155-4838, Tehran, Iran Phone: +98 21 88011001 E-mail: takialtr@modares.ac.ir, ttiraihi@gmail.com Experimental and Clinical Transplantation (2017) ArtIcle DOI: 10.6002/ect.2016.0235