Fig. 3

BM-MSCs transplants alter the retinal architecture. A OCT sections spanning the optic nerve were taken longitudinally before and 3, 5 and 21 days after each transplant. Asterisks mark areas of hyperrefringence, retinal folding and detachment. B Stacked column graphs showing the total, outer and inner retinal thickness were measured in the OCT images at 1-mm from the optic nerve (mean ± SD) before and at 3, 5 and 21 days after each transplant. C Column graph showing the central retinal volume before and 21 days after each transplant. There were not significant differences between groups (p > 0.05, nonparametric, paired Friedman test and Dunn’s post hoc analysis). n = 6 animals/group. D DAPI-stained retinal sections from transplanted animals (for intact animals see Additional file 2: Fig. S2A). In all transplants, the retina shows structural alterations such as folds (white arrows), holes and detachment already at 5 days post-transplant. Asterisks mark the BM-MSC mesh in the vitreous. n = 4 retinas/group/timepoint