Skip to main content
PMC home page
The British Journal of Ophthalmology logoLink to The British Journal of Ophthalmology
. 1988 Jul;72(7):498–510. doi: 10.1136/bjo.72.7.498

Intravitreal injection of fibroblasts: the pathological effects on the ocular tissues of the rabbit following an intravitreal injection of autologous skin fibroblasts.

C A Hitchins 1, I Grierson 1
PMCID: PMC1041513  PMID: 3415942

Abstract

The intravitreal injection of autologous cultured fibroblasts has been used by many groups to study proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Ninety-five New Zealand white rabbits were used to study the pathological effects on the ocular tissues following such an injection over various time periods up to six months. The ocular tissues were studied by light microscopy, electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and autoradiography. The cells which contributed to the inflammatory response (initially neutrophils, then later macrophages and lymphocytes) were found to gain entry into the vitreous via the pars plana, pars plicata, and the vessels associated with the optic nerve head. In the experimental eyes the detached retinae had a reduced ability to incorporate 3H proline. Both epiretinal and subretinal membranes were found on the retinal surfaces. The majority of the glial cells within the membranes were identified as Müller cells. The retinal pigment epithelium beneath the detached retinae incorporated 3H thymidine and detached into the subretinal space. Clear evidence was obtained of both epithelial cell migration through the retina and involvement within epiretinal membranes.

Full text

PDF
509

Images in this article

500Image
on p.500
500Image
on p.500
501Image
on p.501
501Image
on p.501
502Image
on p.502
502Image
on p.502
503Image
on p.503
503Image
on p.503
504Image
on p.504
504Image
on p.504
504Image
on p.504
505Image
on p.505
506Image
on p.506
506Image
on p.506
506Image
on p.506
507Image
on p.507

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Algvere P., Kock E. Experimental Fibroplasia in the rabbit vitreous. Retinal detachment induced by autologous fibroblasts. Albrecht Von Graefes Arch Klin Exp Ophthalmol. 1976 May 26;199(3):215–222. doi: 10.1007/BF00417290. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Anderson D. H., Stern W. H., Fisher S. K., Erickson P. A., Borgula G. A. The onset of pigment epithelial proliferation after retinal detachment. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1981 Jul;21(1 Pt 1):10–16. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Ashton N. Donders lecture, 1967. Some aspecrs of the comparative pathology of oxygen toxicity in the retina. Br J Ophthalmol. 1968 Jul;52(7):505–531. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Burke J. M., Foster S. J. Culture of adult rabbit retinal glial cells: methods and cellular origin of explant outgrowth. Curr Eye Res. 1984 Oct;3(10):1169–1178. doi: 10.3109/02713688409000819. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Burke J. M., Smith J. M. Retinal proliferation in response to vitreous hemoglobin or iron. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1981 May;20(5):582–592. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Duffy P. E., Huang Y. Y., Rapport M. M. The relationship of glial fibrillary acidic protein to the shape, motility, and differentiation of human astrocytoma cells. Exp Cell Res. 1982 May;139(1):145–157. doi: 10.1016/0014-4827(82)90328-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Dvorak A. M., Mihm M. C., Jr, Dvorak H. F. Morphology of delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions in man. II. Ultrastructural alterations affecting the microvasculature and the tissue mast cells. Lab Invest. 1976 Feb;34(2):179–191. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Foos R. Y. Vitreoretinal juncture--simple epiretinal membranes. Albrecht Von Graefes Arch Klin Exp Ophthalmol. 1974 Jan 28;189(4):231–250. doi: 10.1007/BF02384852. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Gloor B. P. On the question of the origin of macrophages in the retina and the vitreous following photocoagulation (autoradiographic investigations by means of 3H-thymidine). Albrecht Von Graefes Arch Klin Exp Ophthalmol. 1974 May 17;190(3):183–194. doi: 10.1007/BF00407092. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Green W. R., Quigley H. A., De la Cruz Z., Cohen B. Parafoveal retinal telangiectasis. Light and electron microscopy studies. Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K. 1980 Apr;100(Pt 1):162–170. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Grierson I., Forrester J. V. Vitreous haemorrhage and vitreal membranes. Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K. 1980 Apr;100(Pt 1):140–150. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Grierson I., Rahi A. H. Structural basis of contraction in vitreal fibrous membranes. Br J Ophthalmol. 1981 Nov;65(11):737–749. doi: 10.1136/bjo.65.11.737. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hitchins C. A., Grierson I. Experimental scar membranes in the rabbit's vitreous. An autoradiographic and quantitative morphological study. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1985 Oct;63(5):557–566. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1985.tb05245.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hitchins C. A., Grierson I., Hiscott P. S. The effects of injections of cultured fibroblasts into the rabbit vitreous. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 1985;223(5):237–249. doi: 10.1007/BF02153654. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Hitchins C. A., Grierson I., Rahi A. H. Contraction of scar tissue in the rabbit vitreous. Connect Tissue Res. 1986;15(3):123–140. doi: 10.3109/03008208609167138. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Johnson N. F. Effects of acute ischaemia on the structure of the rabbit retina. Preliminary observations. Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K. 1974 Jul;94(2):394–405. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Johnson N. F., Foulds W. S. Observations on the retinal pigment epithelium and retinal macrophages in experimental retinal detachment. Br J Ophthalmol. 1977 Sep;61(9):564–572. doi: 10.1136/bjo.61.9.564. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Johnson N. F., Foulds W. S. The effects of total acute ischaemia on the structure of the rabbit retina. Exp Eye Res. 1978 Jul;27(1):45–59. doi: 10.1016/0014-4835(78)90052-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Machemer R., Buettner H. Experimental retinal detachment in the owl monkey. IX. Radioautographic study of protein metabolism. Am J Ophthalmol. 1972 Mar;73(3):377–389. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(72)90066-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Machemer R., Laqua H. Pigment epithelium proliferation in retinal detachment (massive periretinal proliferation). Am J Ophthalmol. 1975 Jul;80(1):1–23. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(75)90862-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Machemer R., Sugita G., Tano Y. Treatment of intraocular proliferations with intravitreal steroids. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 1979;77:171–180. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Mandelcorn M. S., Machemer R., Fineberg E., Hersch S. B. Proliferation and metaplasia of intravitreal retinal pigment epithelium cell autotransplants. Am J Ophthalmol. 1975 Aug;80(2):227–237. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(75)90137-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Moorhead L. C. Effects of beta-aminopropionitrile after posterior penetrating injury in the rabbit. Am J Ophthalmol. 1983 Jan;95(1):97–109. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(83)90337-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Müller-Jensen K., Mandelcorn M. S. Membrane formation by autotransplanted retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Mod Probl Ophthalmol. 1975;15:228–234. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Patz A. Studies on retinal neovascularization. Friedenwald Lecture. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1980 Oct;19(10):1133–1138. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Radtke N. D., Tano Y., Chandler D., Machemer R. Simulation of massive periretinal proliferation by autotransplantation of retinal pigment epithelial cells in rabbits. Am J Ophthalmol. 1981 Jan;91(1):76–87. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(81)90352-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Rungger-Brändle E., Gabbiani G. The role of cytoskeletal and cytocontractile elements in pathologic processes. Am J Pathol. 1983 Mar;110(3):361–392. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Schnitzer J. Distribution and immunoreactivity of glia in the retina of the rabbit. J Comp Neurol. 1985 Oct 8;240(2):128–142. doi: 10.1002/cne.902400203. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Sternberg P., Jr, Machemer R. Subretinal proliferation. Am J Ophthalmol. 1984 Oct 15;98(4):456–462. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(84)90131-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Sugita G., Tano Y., Machemer R., Abrams G., Claflin A., Fiorentino G. Intravitreal autotransplantation of fibroblasts. Am J Ophthalmol. 1980 Jan;89(1):121–130. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(80)90238-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Tano Y., Chandler D. B., Machemer R. Retinal neovascularization after intravitreal fibroblast injection. Am J Ophthalmol. 1981 Jul;92(1):103–109. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)75913-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Tano Y., Chandler D. B., Machemer R. Vascular casts of experimental retinal neovascularization. Am J Ophthalmol. 1981 Jul;92(1):110–120. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)75914-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Wiedemann P., Sorgente N., Ryan S. J. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy: the rabbit cell injection model for screening of antiproliferative drugs. J Pharmacol Methods. 1984 Aug;12(1):69–78. doi: 10.1016/0160-5402(84)90008-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The British Journal of Ophthalmology are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES