PURPOSE: To investigate whether the peeled internal limiting membrane (ILM) contains cellular retinal cell fragments, and to learn more about their possible origin. DESIGN: Experimental study. METHODS: ILM peeled from ten eyes during vitrectomy by infracyanine green (ICG) was studied immunohistochemically using the markers: GFAP, S-100, and vimentin. Five ILM specimens were from eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME), two from eyes with a macular hole, and three from eyes with persisting macular edema after retinal detachment surgery. RESULTS: In eight of the ten ILM specimens, we found GFAP-positive staining, indicating the presence of remnants of footplates from Müller cells or glial cells. Two ILM specimens were positive for S-100, indicating the presence of neural cells or ganglion cells. CONCLUSIONS: ILM peeled from the retina during vitrectomy using ICG may contain remnants of Müller cell footplates, neural cells, and ganglion cells.
PURPOSE: To investigate whether the peeled internal limiting membrane (ILM) contains cellular retinal cell fragments, and to learn more about their possible origin. DESIGN: Experimental study. METHODS: ILM peeled from ten eyes during vitrectomy by infracyanine green (ICG) was studied immunohistochemically using the markers: GFAP, S-100, and vimentin. Five ILM specimens were from eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME), two from eyes with a macular hole, and three from eyes with persisting macular edema after retinal detachment surgery. RESULTS: In eight of the ten ILM specimens, we found GFAP-positive staining, indicating the presence of remnants of footplates from Müller cells or glial cells. Two ILM specimens were positive for S-100, indicating the presence of neural cells or ganglion cells. CONCLUSIONS: ILM peeled from the retina during vitrectomy using ICG may contain remnants of Müller cell footplates, neural cells, and ganglion cells.
Authors: Francesco Semeraro; Francesco Morescalchi; Sarah Duse; Elena Gambicorti; Andrea Russo; Ciro Costagliola Journal: J Ophthalmol Date: 2015-09-03 Impact factor: 1.909