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Breakdown of the outer blood-retinal barrier in experimental commotio retinae.

Authors :
Bunt-Milam AH
Black RA
Bensinger RE
Source :
Experimental eye research [Exp Eye Res] 1986 Sep; Vol. 43 (3), pp. 397-412.
Publication Year :
1986

Abstract

An animal model has been developed in this study to produce commotio retinae (Berlin's edema) by means of standardized, non-penetrating B.B. pistol injury to the cornea. Parameters have been established to ensure uniform blunt injury, enabling study of the retina and blood-retinal barrier by light- and electron microscopy, including use of horseradish peroxidase as a vascular tracer. Retinal whitening and swelling were found in the peripapillary and central regions, as occurs in the human. The earliest damage involved breakage of the connecting cilia of rods and cones, with rapid disorganization of the outer segments. Later changes included swelling of photoreceptor inner segments and breakdown of the outer blood-retinal barrier at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium. The outer blood-retinal barrier was re-established between 7 and 14 days, and at the longest survival (56 days), incompletely regenerated outer segments were present. This model for commotio retinae provides a new approach for the study of outer-segment regeneration in rods and cones after mechanical injury, as well as mechanisms that underlie re-establishment of the blood-retinal barrier following non-penetrating trauma to the eye.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0014-4835
Volume :
43
Issue :
3
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Experimental eye research
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
3780882
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0014-4835(86)80076-8