Experimental study on relationship between retinal vein occlusion and loss of vitreous gel mass.

PURPOSE

To explore the relationship between retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and loss of vitreous gel mass.

METHODS

An experimental RVO was induced by a photodynamic method in one eye (experimental eye) of 17 chinchilla rabbits. The contralateral eye was used as an untreated control. The changes in vitreous gel mass and liquefaction were investigated one month later. Changes in molecular properties of type II collagen in vitreous were analyzed by western immunoblot analysis.

RESULTS

An RVO was successfully induced in 13 of 17 chinchilla rabbits (76.5%), which caused loss of vitreous gel mass and loss of elasticity, accompanied by release of a water-like liquid from the gel. The alpha chains of type II collagen were crosslinked together to form high molecular weight components of beta and gamma, which weakened the stability of collagen net structure.

CONCLUSIONS

Loss of vitreous gel mass occurred in RVO eyes. The crosslinks of vitreous collagen may damage the stability of collagen structure, and promote loss of vitreous gel mass.