Comparison of single versus multiple injections of the protein saratin for prolonging bleb survival in a rabbit model
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A Step by Step Protocol for Subretinal Surgery in Rabbits
Published on: September 13, 2016
Jeff Min1, Zachary L Lukowski, Monica A Levine
1Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Purpose:
We compared the anti-fibrotic effects of single versus multiple postoperative injections of saratin following glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS) in the rabbit model.
Methods:
The experiment was in two parts. To determine the optimal frequency for postoperative therapy, seven New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits received an injection of saratin under the superior conjunctiva bilaterally, and ocular tissue concentration was determined using Western blot and bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay. Next, 32 additional NZW rabbits underwent filtration surgery and received either single or multiple-dose saratin treatments. Mitomycin-C (MMC) and balanced saline solution (BSS) treatment acted as positive and negative controls, respectively.
Results:
Rabbits receiving only one perioperative saratin injection had a mean bleb survival time of 29.8 ± 5.3 days, while those receiving multiple (either 3 or 5+) injections of saratin had mean bleb survival times of 26.3 ± 8.1 and 26.4 ± 4.2 days, respectively. Analysis of variance with post-hoc testing showed the single injection group had a statistically favorable effect on bleb survival duration compared to BSS controls and was not significantly different from MMC. The conjunctivas of the saratin-treated rabbits did not show the thinning or avascularity that was seen in the MMC treatment group. Rabbits receiving more than three injections of saratin suffered temporary conjunctival redness and two rabbits had upper eyelid edema.
Conclusions:
A single postoperative injection of saratin was able to prolong the duration of bleb elevation when compared to BSS controls. Additional treatments of saratin seemed to reduce effectiveness and caused short-term eye inflammation.
