Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2012 Feb;28(1):83-8. doi: 10.1089/jop.2011.0030. Epub 2011 Oct 19.
Retinal laser photocoagulation is used to treat a variety of retinal diseases. Breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier has been noted after retinal laser photocoagulation. The effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the function of the blood-aqueous barrier after retinal laser photocoagulation remains undetermined. The current study was designed to evaluate the relationship between intraocular levels of VEGF and breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier after retinal laser photocoagulation in rabbits.
Pigmented rabbits were treated with retinal laser photocoagulation in one eye; the other served as control. Laser flare photometry was carried out on post-treatment days 1, 3, 7, and 14. Animals were sacrificed at the time period just mentioned postlaser, the eyes were removed, and samples of vitreous and aqueous humor were collected. Intraocular VEGF levels were measured by using an immunoassay. An intravitreal injection of VEGF was administered, and the aqueous flare intensity and VEGF levels in the aqueous and vitreous humor were measured at the time periods just mentioned.
A significant increase in the aqueous flare intensity after retinal laser photocoagulation was noticed on postoperative day 1, with the values returning to baseline levels on day 14. The VEGF levels in the vitreous of the lasered eyes were significantly increased on day 1 compared with the nonlasered control eyes. The VEGF levels in the aqueous humor of the lasered eyes were also significantly increased on day 1 compared with the control eyes. An intravitreal injection of VEGF induced a significant increase in the aqueous flare intensity and VEGF levels in the aqueous and vitreous humor.
The current results suggested that retinal laser photocoagulation can produce a breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier. VEGF may play a role in the blood-aqueous barrier dysfunction after retinal laser photocoagulation.
视网膜激光光凝术用于治疗各种视网膜疾病。在视网膜激光光凝术后已经观察到血眼屏障的破坏。血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)对视网膜激光光凝术后血眼屏障功能的影响尚不确定。本研究旨在评估兔眼视网膜激光光凝术后眼内 VEGF 水平与血眼屏障破坏的关系。
色素性兔眼接受视网膜激光光凝术治疗,另一只眼作为对照。在治疗后第 1、3、7 和 14 天进行激光闪烁光度法检查。在激光后即刻提到的时间点处死动物,取出眼球,采集玻璃体和房水样本。通过免疫测定法测量眼内 VEGF 水平。给予 VEGF 玻璃体腔内注射,并在上述时间点测量房水闪烁强度和房水及玻璃体 VEGF 水平。
在视网膜激光光凝术后第 1 天,房水闪烁强度显著增加,第 14 天恢复至基线水平。激光眼玻璃体 VEGF 水平在第 1 天明显高于非激光对照眼。激光眼房水 VEGF 水平在第 1 天也明显高于对照眼。玻璃体腔内注射 VEGF 可显著增加房水闪烁强度和房水及玻璃体 VEGF 水平。
目前的结果表明,视网膜激光光凝术可导致血眼屏障破坏。VEGF 可能在视网膜激光光凝术后血眼屏障功能障碍中发挥作用。