title: Use of a gel biopolymer for the treatment of eviscerated eyes: experimental model in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate histologically the integration process of cellulose gel produced by Zoogloea sp when implanted into rabbits' eviscerated eyes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This experimental study employed 36 eyes of 18 rabbits subjected to evisceration of their right eyes. The sclerocorneal bag was sutured and filled with biopolymer from sugar cane in the gel state. All animals were clinically examined by biomicroscopy until the day of their sacrifice which occurred on the 7th, 30th, 60th, 90th, 120th, or 240th day. The eyeballs obtained, including the left eyes considered controls were sent for histopathological study by optical macroscopy and microscopy. Tissue staining techniques used included hematoxylin-eosin, Masson trichrome (with aniline), Gomori trichrome, Van Gienson, Picrosirius red, and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No clinical signs of infection, allergy, toxicity, or extrusion were observed throughout the experiment. The corneas were relatively preserved. Macroscopic examination revealed a decrease of ~ 8% in the volume of the bulbs implanted with the biopolymer. After cutting, the sclerocorneal bag was solid, compact, elastic, and resistant to traction, with a smooth and whitish surface, and showed no signs of necrosis or liquefaction. The episcleral tissues were somewhat hypertrophied. The histological preparations studied in different colors revealed an initial lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, replaced by a fibroblastic response and proliferation of histiocytes, along with formation of giant cells. Few polymorphonuclearneutrophils and eosinophils were also found. Neovascularization and collagen deposition were present in all animals starting from day 30; although on the 240th day of the experiment the chronic inflammatory response, neovascularization and collagen deposition had not yet reached the center of the implant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this model, the cellulose gel produced by Zoogloea sp proved to be biocompatible and integrated into the orbits. Morphometric, immunohistochemical and biodegradability studies should be performed in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Laboratory of Immunopathology KeizoAssami, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - UFPE - Recife (PE), Brazil. oftalpe@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Francisco de Assis
authors.initials: Fde A
authors.lastname: Cordeiro-Barbosa
authors.forename: José Lamartine de Andrade
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.forename: Mariana Montenegro de Melo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lira
authors.forename: Nicodemos Teles de
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Pontes Filho
authors.forename: Sidcley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernardino-Araújo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017234:Eye Evisceration; D033401:Microscopy, Acoustic; D020273:Orbital Implants; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001704:Biopolymers