[Quantification of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF alpha) in rabbit aqueous...

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) in rabbit aqueous humor were quantified before and after phacoemulsification (phaco) and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). bFGF was not detected (< 10 pg/ml) before the operation, but increased to 250 +/- 150 pg/ml in a phaco group and 300 +/- 280 pg/ml in a phaco+IOL group on the first postoperative day. The concentration of bFGF in the aqueous humor was the highest in the first postoperative week, with a peak value of 390 +/- 180 pg/ml, and then gradually decreased to 130 +/- 50 pg/ml in the phaco group and 180 +/- 160 pg/ml in the phaco+IOL group in the eighth postoperative week. TGF alpha was not detected (< 10 pg/ml) before the operation or on the first postoperative day in either group. 25 +/- 50 pg/ml and 35 +/- 100 pg/ml of TGF alpha was detected in a phaco group and a phaco+IOL group on the third postoperative day and then TGF alpha in the aqueous humor gradually decreased becoming undetectable in the third postoperative week. The level of bFGF and TGF alpha was higher in a phaco+IOL group than in a phaco group but there was no statistical significance. The results show that bFGF increases in the aqueous humor for several postoperative weeks and suggests that it is one the of factors that promote capsular opacities and shrinkage in the early postoperative period of cataract extraction.