[Expression of connective tissue growth factor after trabeculectomy in rabbits].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) after trabeculectomy associated with wound healing and to identify the role of CTGF in this process.


METHODS
It was a experimental study. Forty-nine rabbits were used and divided into 5 groups: normal eyes without trabeculectomy group (group A), ocular hypertension (OHT) model without trabeculectomy group (group B), OHT model with trabeculectomy group (group C), normal eyes with trabeculectomy group (group D) and normal eyes with sham operation group (group E). Group A and B were as control. CTGF mRNA was detected by RT-PCR using blebs and tissues harvested at day 2, 5, 7, and 14. Three replicates of three blebs per time point in the right eyes were collected. The expression of CTGF protein was detected by immunohistochemistry and inflammatory histopathology was inspected by HE staining using the whole eyeball harvested in the left eyes.


RESULTS
Compared to group A and B, the expression of CTGF was significantly increased at day 5 after surgery (F = 19.54, P < 0.05) in group C, D, and E. The expression of CTGF mRNA in group C is significantly higher than that in group D at day 2 and 5 (t = 2.300, 5.140, P < 0.05), while group D is significantly higher than that in group E at day 2, 5, 7, and 14 (t = -2.927, -6.424, -4.176, -4.997, P < 0.05). The expression of CTGF protein in group C is significantly higher than that in group D (t = -7.147, -10.955, -9.900, -6.385, P < 0.05), and group D is higher than that in group E (F = 68.33, P < 0.05) at day 2, 5, 7, and 14, respectively. Inflammatory reaction reached peak at day 5 after surgery in group C, D, and E showing an infiltration of neutrophil, monocytes, macrophages, and the proliferation of fibroblast.


CONCLUSIONS
Overexpression of CTGF in the blebs after trabeculectomy demonstrates that CTGF may play an important role in the process of wound healing. Furthermore, ocular hypertension may be involved in the upregulation of CTGF expression.
Yuan
Hui-ping
HP
Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, China. yuanhp@yahoo.com
Li
Xiao-hong
XH
Yang
Bin-bin
BB
Shao
Zheng-bo
ZB
Yan
Li-ping
LP
D000818:Animals; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011817:Rabbits; D014130:Trabeculectomy; D014945:Wound Healing
D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor