Posterior vitreous detachment induced by microplasmin.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To demonstrate the efficacy of microplasmin in inducing posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and to evaluate the human and the feline retina after treatment.

METHODS:

Thirteen human donor eyes were injected with 62.5, 125, or 188 micro g microplasmin. The 13 fellow eyes received balanced salt solution. Four of the microplasmin-treated eyes received an additional intravitreal gas injection. After incubation at 37 degrees C for 30 minutes, all globes were placed in 4% paraformaldehyde. Retinal specimens were processed for scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy. Five feline eyes were injected with 14.5- or 25- micro g microplasmin. Animals were killed after 1 day, 3 days, or 3 weeks, and retinal specimens were evaluated by electron and confocal microscopy.

RESULTS:

In all control eyes, SEM demonstrated the cortical vitreous covering the inner limiting membrane (ILM). Intravitreal injection of 125 or 188 micro g microplasmin resulted in complete PVD. After treatment with 62.5 micro g microplasmin, SEM revealed collagen fibrils covering the ILM. Additional gas injection did not change the dose necessary for PVD. In vivo in cats, 25 micro g microplasmin resulted in complete PVD after 3 days. After 3 weeks, there was complete PVD with both doses of microplasmin. The retina and the ILM were well preserved in all eyes.

CONCLUSIONS:

Both after death and in vivo, microplasmin induces a dose-dependent cleavage between the vitreous cortex and the ILM without morphologic alterations of the retina. In the feline eye, there is no cellular response of retinal glial cells or neurons.

• Authors: Arnd Gandorfer, Matthias Rohleder, Charanjit Sethi, Dominik Eckle, Ulrich Welge-Lüssen, Anselm Kampik, Philip Luthert, David Charteris
• Journal: Investigative ophthalmology & visual science (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci) Vol. 45 Issue 2 Pg. 641-7 (Feb 2004) ISSN: 0146-0404 [Print] United States
• PMID: 14744909 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Fibrinolytic Agents
• Peptide Fragments
• microplasmin
• Fibrinolysin

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Animals
• Cats
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Fibrinolysin (administration & dosage)
• Fibrinolytic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Injections
• Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
• Middle Aged
• Neuroglia (drug effects, ultrastructure)
• Peptide Fragments (administration & dosage)
• Retina (drug effects, ultrastructure)
• Time Factors
• Vitreous Body (drug effects, ultrastructure)
• Vitreous Detachment (chemically induced, pathology)