Retinal pigment epithelium-choroid organ culture

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) plays a vital role in retinal function, and therefore studies on RPE provide a significant benefit for our visual function. In order to obtain useful information from study results, choosing the suitable experimental model for each purpose of study is of great importance. Although RPE cell cultures are widely used, cells in cell culture have significantly different phenotypical characteristics from in vivo cells. The advantage of using native tissue is that cells in the tissue have close biological properties to in vivo conditions. This review describes basic characteristics of native RPE-choroid tissues in comparison to RPE cells in cell culture and introduces the possibility of preserving tissues in different culture systems. Advantages and disadvantages of organ culture and suitable studies with recent study results are also introduced.