Involvement of fibronectin in in vitro regeneration of retinal pigment epithelium.

Argon laser photocoagulation was placed on the confluent monolayer of cultured chick retinal pigment epithelial cells as a model of the regeneration process of retinal pigment epithelium after laser burn. The intense fibrillar net immunofluorescent pattern of fibronectin appeared on the burnt area from 2 h after the laser application, before the beginning of tissue reconstruction. Fibronectin was observed for several days, then became undetectable before the complete regeneration of retinal pigment epithelial cells. This indicates that fibronectin is involved in the early regeneration process of retinal pigment epithelium.