Biocompatibility assessment of silicone oil and perfluorocarbon liquids used in retinal reattachment surgery in rat retinal cultures.
The effects of silicone oil and perfluorocarbon liquids used in retinal reattachment surgery were studied in vitro using rat retinal cultures seeded on microporous inserts. These inserts allow the cell layer to be in contact with the material to be tested on the apical side and with the nutrient medium on the basal side. The materials tested were silicone oil, the perfluorocarbons perfluorophenanthrene and perfluoroctane, and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. Perfluorophenanthrene, the heaviest of the compounds, induced a very precocious detachment of the cell layer. All the other tested biomaterials were compatible with cell survival and did not alter the structural organization of the retinal cultures, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. By immunocytochemical techniques we evaluated the cell composition and the differentiation state of each of the cultures. In both control and treated samples, neuronal cells were well preserved. The expression of microtubule-associated protein 2, a marker of differentiated neuronal cytoskeleton, was not affected. Amacrine neurons, immunolabeled for gamma-aminobutyric acid, still were detectable after treatment. Synapses, marked by immunoreactivity for synapthophysin, were equally preserved. Vimentin-positive glial cells did not show modifications. The apoptotic rate, as determined by the terminal transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling assay, was similar in treated and control samples. The results confirm that the use of biomaterials with a specific gravity close to intraocular fluids is compatible with retinal cell survival and differentiation in vitro.
Malchiodi-Albedi
Fiorella
F
Laboratory of Ultrastructure, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Roma, 00161, Italy. malchiod@iss.it
Morgillo
Antonio
A
Formisano
Giuseppe
G
Paradisi
Silvia
S
Perilli
Roberto
R
Scalzo
Giovanna Carnovale
GC
Scorcia
Giovanni
G
Caiazza
Salvatore
S
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D048429:Cell Size; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000601:surgery*; D012827:Silicone Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000378:metabolism; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D012827:Silicone Oils; D016708:Synaptophysin; D014746:Vimentin