Abstract
Purpose: :
To investigate the biochemical and morphological changes in the retina following the creation of an experimental retinal detachment in laboratory albino rats.
Methods: :
Retinal detachment was created in adult,male Whistar rats.The surgery was done according to the ARVO Rules for Animal Care. Under deep anesthesia about half of the retina was detached while injecting sub retina a volume of 5 microliter of PBS.The detachment was observed under the surgical microscope and validated by MRI up to 4 weeks following the surgery.Retina were collected after the sacrifice of the animal using a lethal dose of phenobarbital injected IV. The collection of retina was done at time intervals of 48 hours, 14 days and 4 weeks following the surgery.Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry staining of the retina was done.The rertinae were searched for expression of Semaphorin3A, Neuropilin1,and GAFP43 as being the representative of the apoptotic program of retinal ganglion cells and involved in morphological changes of Muller and cells of the retina.
Results: :
The level of Semaphorin3A raised at the highest level at 14 days following surgery.Neuropilin1 level raised the same way and GAFP43 raised at the highest level at 14 days and remained at the same level up to 28 days following surgery.Microglia invasion in the retina achieved the peak at 14 days following surgery and concentrated at the level of the internal nuclear layer, mostly in the RGC area. The Muller cells elongared their podes and were observed over the entire structure of the retina.
Conclusions: :
Biochemical and morphologic changes found in the experimental detached retina in the very early period might expalin the variabilty in visual acuity outcome among cases even all of them overcame a successfull surgery. Our work can be the start to create a new approach to treat the retina following surgery to improve the functional result.
Keywords: retinal detachment • retina: proximal (bipolar, amacrine, and ganglion cells) • retina: neurochemistry