Effect of retinoic acid on wound healing of laser burns to porcine retinal pigment epithelium.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of retinoic acid on wound healing of laser burns to explants of porcine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).


METHODS
With the help of a mirrored attachment to a Coherent argon laser, laser burns (spot size 100 mu, power 500 mW, duration 0.2 seconds) were performed in 12 explants. The explants were then cultured in the presence (six explants) or absence (six explants) of 1 microM retinoic acid. Two explants in either group were recovered 4, 8 and 12 days after treatment for histologic study and scanning electron microscopy.


METHODS
Mean burn area remaining after culture.


RESULTS
The area of wound remaining unhealed in the presence of retinoic acid was significantly larger than the area of wound remaining unhealed in the absence of retinoic acid at each time point.


CONCLUSIONS
Retinoic acid inhibited wound healing of laser burns to porcine RPE. This effect may illustrate a role for retinoic acid in the pharmacotherapy of proliferative disorders.
MacDonald
I M
IM
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alberta, Edmonton.
Peters
C
C
Chen
M H
MH
D000818:Animals; D001128:Argon; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004867:Equipment Design; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D007834:Lasers; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013552:Swine; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D014212:Tretinoin; D001128:Argon