Ocular toxicity of intravitreous transforming growth factor-beta 1.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the ocular toxicity of intravitreous transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta(1)).


METHODS
Eyes of New Zealand white rabbits were injected intravitreally with TGF-beta(1) in doses of 20, 10, 5, 1 or 0.5 micrograms. Electroretinography and clinical examination were performed before and after the injection. At either 10 or 30 days after injection, the eyes were enucleated and examined histologically. The endothelium of fresh corneas, which had received 20 micrograms TGF-beta(1) or nothing, were checked 5 days after injection.


RESULTS
Corneal opacity was caused by doses > or = 10 micrograms in 7 of 7 eyes; by doses of 5 micrograms in 3 of 4 eyes; and by doses of 1 microgram in 1 of 4 eyes. Doses > or = 5 micrograms also caused pannus formation in 15 of 16 eyes. Ten days after injection there was some decrease in B-wave amplitude on electroretinography. Thirty days after injection the electroretinographic responses had recovered, except in the eyes injected with 20 micrograms TGF-beta(1), which still showed a decrease in step 1. Histological examination of paraffin sections did not demonstrate significant change. Corneal thickness of the eyes receiving 20 micrograms TGF-beta(1) was twice that of the normal cornea and some corneal endothelial cells lost their hexagonal shape.


CONCLUSIONS
TGF-beta(1) injected intravitreally at doses > or = 1 micrograms is toxic to the cornea. Retinal function is only slightly disturbed by 20 micrograms of TGF-beta(1).
Liang
C
C
LSU Eye Center, Louisiana State University Medical Center, School of Medicine, New Orleans 70112-2234, USA.
Peyman
G A
GA
Federman
J
J
D000818:Animals; D004596:Electroretinography; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta