Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To evaluate the effect of TGFß–2 in the development of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) in rodents. Methods: An extracapsular lens extraction (ECLE) was performed in 24 Spague–Dawley male rats. At the end of the surgery, 10 µl of TGFß–2 diluted in 2% fetal calf serum (FCS) / phosphate buffered saline (PBS) to a concentration of 1 ng/ml (Treated Group) or 10 µl of 2% FCS / PBS (Control Group) were injected inside the capsular bag. Six animals in each group (Treated and Control Group) were sacrificed at 3 and 14 days postoperatively. The degree of PCO was evaluated clinically and histologically by a single observer in a masked fashion. For light microscopy studies, three sections per eye were obtained through the middle of the eye, taking the optic nerve as a reference point, and stained with toluidine blue. The degree of PCO with respect to capsular wrinkling, lens epithelial cell (LEC) proliferation and Soemmerring's ring formation was qualitatively graded as mild, moderate or severe. In addition, using a locally designed computerized program, quantitative analysis of LEC counts were also obtained. The t–test was used for the statistical analysis. Results: Although clinically less animals seemed to develop PCO in the TGF–ß2 group at 3 days, there was no statistically significant differences in the degree of PCO detected histologically (qualitative or quantitative) between Treated and Control groups at 3 days and 2 weeks following ECLE. Conclusions: There was no effect of TGF–ß2 in the development of PCO at the dose and timing administered in this study in this "in vivo" rodent model of PCO.
Keywords: posterior capsular opacification (PCO) • growth factors/growth factor receptors