The role of cellular proliferation in an experimental model of massive periretinal proliferation.

Transplantation of from 10,000 to 750,000 autologous and homologous dermal fibroblasts into the vitreous cavity of rabbit eyes resulted in identical clinical findings leading to massive periretinal proliferation. A dose-response relationship between the number of cells injected and the extent of retinal traction that developed was established. The second phase of the experiment evaluated the effects of formalin and cobalt irradiation on the fibroblasts' ability to cause traction retinal detachment. Cell proliferation or the attainment of a critical mass of living cells was necessary for the development of traction retinal detachment.