Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine the cellular effects of triamcinolone acetonide in acute retinal detachment.
Methods: :
Localised retinal detachment was induced in 3 pigmented adult rabbits. Triamcinolone (2mg) was given intravitreally (a) at the time of detachment and (b) 24 hours later. BrdU was injected 4 hours prior to sacrifice at 3 days after detachment induction. Retinas were examined using a panel of -probes to detect cellular activation of Muller cells and microglia (anti-vimentin and isolectin B4, respectively) and proliferation (anti-BrdU). Total cell counts were analysed for proliferating cells (BrdU positive cells/mm). Vehicle injected 3 day retinal detachments without triamcinolone were studied as controls.
Results: :
Intra-retinal glial activation and photoreceptor deconstruction was seen in both treated and control animals. BrdU localised to retinal glial cells in control animals. Triamcinolone treatment resulted in a significant reduction in BrdU positive cell counts (by 70%). There was no evidence of Muller cell or microglial activation in non-detached retina. Occasional RPE cells were BrdU positive.
Conclusions: :
Triamcinolone reduces glial cell proliferation in acute retinal detachment. Muller cell hypertrophy was not affected suggesting that this is a separate event from proliferation. Triamcinolone has the potential to modify the acute retinal response to detachment and this could influence the clinical development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
Keywords: retinal detachment • proliferative vitreoretinopathy • retinal glia