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Published on: June 14, 2021
Posterior vitreous detachment induced by microplasmin
Arnd Gandorfer1, Matthias Rohleder, Charanjit Sethi
1Department of Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. arnd.gandorfer@ak-i.med.uni-muenchen.de
Purpose:
To demonstrate the efficacy of microplasmin in inducing posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and to evaluate the human and the feline retina after treatment.
Methods:
Thirteen human donor eyes were injected with 62.5, 125, or 188 micro g microplasmin. The 13 fellow eyes received balanced salt solution. Four of the microplasmin-treated eyes received an additional intravitreal gas injection. After incubation at 37 degrees C for 30 minutes, all globes were placed in 4% paraformaldehyde. Retinal specimens were processed for scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy. Five feline eyes were injected with 14.5- or 25- micro g microplasmin. Animals were killed after 1 day, 3 days, or 3 weeks, and retinal specimens were evaluated by electron and confocal microscopy.
Results:
In all control eyes, SEM demonstrated the cortical vitreous covering the inner limiting membrane (ILM). Intravitreal injection of 125 or 188 micro g microplasmin resulted in complete PVD. After treatment with 62.5 micro g microplasmin, SEM revealed collagen fibrils covering the ILM. Additional gas injection did not change the dose necessary for PVD. In vivo in cats, 25 micro g microplasmin resulted in complete PVD after 3 days. After 3 weeks, there was complete PVD with both doses of microplasmin. The retina and the ILM were well preserved in all eyes.
Conclusions:
Both after death and in vivo, microplasmin induces a dose-dependent cleavage between the vitreous cortex and the ILM without morphologic alterations of the retina. In the feline eye, there is no cellular response of retinal glial cells or neurons.
Insights
Microplasmin effectively induces posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) by cleaving the vitreous cortex from the retina. This method preserves retinal integrity in both human and feline eyes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Retinal Science
- Vitreoretinal Surgery
Background:
- Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is a common age-related condition.
- Inducing PVD can be beneficial for treating certain retinal diseases.
- Current methods for PVD induction have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of microplasmin in inducing PVD.
- To evaluate the safety of microplasmin on the retina in human and feline models.
- To understand the dose-dependent effects of microplasmin on vitreous-retinal adhesion.
Main Methods:
- Human donor eyes and feline eyes were treated with varying doses of microplasmin.
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used for analysis.
- Retinal specimens were examined after intravitreal injection and incubation periods.
Main Results:
- Microplasmin induced complete PVD at doses of 125 and 188 micro g in human eyes.
- In vivo studies in cats showed complete PVD with 25 micro g microplasmin after 3 days.
- No morphologic alterations of the retina or cellular response were observed in any treated eyes.
Conclusions:
- Microplasmin effectively induces dose-dependent PVD in postmortem and in vivo models.
- The treatment preserves retinal structure and does not elicit cellular responses in glial cells or neurons.
- Microplasmin presents a promising agent for controlled PVD induction in ophthalmology.
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