Argon laser lesions in the human RPE in vitro

Argon laser lesions were produced in human retinas in eyes to be enucleated because of choroidal melanomas. Lesions were subsequently isolated and maintained in vitro for one month and evaluated by light, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. In the cultured lesions ingrowing cells with a well recognizable epithelial morphology were observed to cover Bruch's membrane in the photocoagulated area, and to grow as sheets on sensory retinal tissue and on detached necrotic pigment epithelium. This growth was predominantly monolayered. In areas, however, overlapping, detachment of cells from the epithelium into the photocoagulated debris, and formation of tubulovescicular structures were observed. The present study demonstrates that lesions with a known potential for reactive changes in the retinal pigment epithelium in vivo can be isolated and cultured with a maintained potential for some of the typical reactive patterns. This opens for investigations on their genesis and on agents modifying these patterns under controlled in vitro conditions.