title: Intravitreal saline injection ameliorates laser-induced retinal damage in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Injury to the central nervous system has been shown to trigger a physiologic response in the form of some degree of natural self-repair. This beneficial reaction may be boosted by appropriate preconditioning via a reversible injury to the retina. Here we report the ameliorative effect of intravitreal saline injection on laser-induced retinal damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard argon laser lesions (514 and 544 nm, 200 μm, 0.1 W, 0.05 seconds) were induced in the eyes of 36 Dark Agouti pigmented rats and immediately followed by injection of saline either intravitreally (5 μL) or intravenously (0.5 mL). Lesions were evaluated histologically and morphometrically after 3, 20, and 60 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At all 3 time points, the eyes of rats injected intravitreally showed less laser-induced retinal cell loss (P < 0.05) and smaller lesion diameters (P < 0.05) than those of intravenously injected rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravitreal saline injection evidently has a neuroprotective effect on the rat retina. The mechanism of action of this effect should be further elucidated and its clinical applicability tested.
authors.affiliation: Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. markb120@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belokopytov
authors.forename: Shiri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shulman
authors.forename: Galina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dubinsky
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belkin
authors.forename: Mordechai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000009:adverse effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000293:injuries*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012965:Sodium Chloride