Islet/retinal cell transplant?

While enoying the Florida sunshine during the month of November I checked my emails from Winnipeg and was impressed with the Life Extension Newsletter where they discuss restoring vision for victims of macular degeneration with embryonic stem cell transplants into the posterior chamber of the eye.

In a earlier blog I rationalized that since pancreatic islet cells appear to be of neural origin (neural crest) that maybe such cells could be transplanted into the brain where the body is less capable of mounting a homograft rejection.

Since the olfactory nerve like the retinal (optical) nerve has direct connection to the brain, it may be possible to transplant islet cells in the vicinity of the olfactory nerve through a surgical approach using the roof of the mouth-thus avoiding the brain itself. (viz vicinity of the olfactory nerve- or maybe even adjacent to the vascular rich pituitary area)

If such surgery is possible, loosing one's sense of smell may be a minor sacrifice to avoid the repeated daily injections of the insulin hormone which human physiologist admit does not control satisfactorily blood sugar levels throughout the day for many victims with a varied life style.

In the interum, endocrinologists might explore possible to use a hormonal nasal spray rather than the present insulin injections.