Article
Artificial nutrition of the ischemic retina by perfoming PPV with Dulbecco`s Modified Eagle Medium
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Published: | May 30, 2012 |
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Purpose: Up to date no evidence-based causal therapy exists for the treatment of the central retinal artery occlusion. In order to win time for causal therapies like the reperfusion-therapy, the retina should be supplied with oxygen and nutritions until the artery is opened again. Our aim is to enlarge the retinal tolerance time against ischemia.
Methods: Enucleated bovine eyes underwent Pars Plana Vitrectomy 100 minutes after the animal's death. The eyes were filled with Dulbecco`s Modified Eagle Medium and an oxygen bubble. Four hours after the start of PPV the eyes were opened, the retina was prepared and analyzed from functional and morphological perspective. The functional cell density and the spontaneous electrical activity of retinal ganglion cells was measured with a multielectrode array. The cellular morphology was investigated by evaluating the TUNEL-positive cells in the ganglion-cell-layer. Furthermore the THY-1 mRNA expression was measured 24 hours after the beginning of the PPV. The operated eyes were compared to freshly prepared ones and to eyes suffering from 340 minutes of ischemia.
Results: The eyes which underwent PPV showed a higher spontanoues ganglion-cell-activity compared to the unoperated ones. Furthermore the THY-1 Expression of the ganglion cells was also elevated 24 h after operation.
Conclusions: Performation of PPV and filling up the globe with Dulbecco`s Modified Eagle Medium and an oxygen bubble can extend the retinal tolerance time against ischemic injury. Further in-vivo studies are needed to approve these findings.