BACKGROUND: The correlation between histologically identified regeneration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and functional outcome measured by multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) following surgical debridement is examined in a porcine model. In humans, visual acuity is reduced in diseases with RPE loss such as RPE tears and geographic atrophy. Hypopigmented RPE is known to cover the lesion after RPE debridement in the pig, but it is unclear whether this leads to a return of photoreceptor function. METHODS: RPE debridement was performed in ten pigs by vitrectomy and retinotomy, and by brushing the Bruch's membrane with a silicone catheter. Immediately following surgery (baseline) and after 2 and 6 weeks respectively, the animals were examined by mfERG, fundus photographs (FPs), fluorescein angiograms (FAs), and histopathology. RESULTS: The mfERG P1 amplitude was decreased 2 weeks (T₂) after surgery; it returned to baseline 6 weeks (T₆) after surgery. FPs, FAs, and histology showed partial repopulation of Bruch's membrane by hypopigmented RPE cells and atrophied outer segments at T₂. At T₆, normally pigmented RPE cells were identified, and the photoreceptor layer was restored. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show that the histological regeneration of hypopigmented RPE correlates to a return of the retinal function, measured by mfERG.
BACKGROUND: The correlation between histologically identified regeneration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and functional outcome measured by multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) following surgical debridement is examined in a porcine model. In humans, visual acuity is reduced in diseases with RPE loss such as RPE tears and geographic atrophy. Hypopigmented RPE is known to cover the lesion after RPE debridement in the pig, but it is unclear whether this leads to a return of photoreceptor function. METHODS: RPE debridement was performed in ten pigs by vitrectomy and retinotomy, and by brushing the Bruch's membrane with a silicone catheter. Immediately following surgery (baseline) and after 2 and 6 weeks respectively, the animals were examined by mfERG, fundus photographs (FPs), fluorescein angiograms (FAs), and histopathology. RESULTS: The mfERG P1 amplitude was decreased 2 weeks (T₂) after surgery; it returned to baseline 6 weeks (T₆) after surgery. FPs, FAs, and histology showed partial repopulation of Bruch's membrane by hypopigmented RPE cells and atrophied outer segments at T₂. At T₆, normally pigmented RPE cells were identified, and the photoreceptor layer was restored. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show that the histological regeneration of hypopigmented RPE correlates to a return of the retinal function, measured by mfERG.
Authors: Antonia M Joussen; Sandra Joeres; Nader Fawzy; Florian M A Heussen; Helene Llacer; Jan C van Meurs; Bernd Kirchhof Journal: Ophthalmology Date: 2007-03 Impact factor: 12.079
Authors: Maria Voss Kyhn; Jens F Kiilgaard; Ana Garcia Lopez; Erik Scherfig; Jan U Prause; Morten la Cour Journal: Acta Ophthalmol Date: 2007-10-18 Impact factor: 3.761
Authors: R E MacLaren; R A Pearson; A MacNeil; R H Douglas; T E Salt; M Akimoto; A Swaroop; J C Sowden; R R Ali Journal: Nature Date: 2006-11-09 Impact factor: 49.962
Authors: Tai-Chi Lin; Magdalene J Seiler; Danhong Zhu; Paulo Falabella; David R Hinton; Dennis O Clegg; Mark S Humayun; Biju B Thomas Journal: Stem Cells Int Date: 2017-08-27 Impact factor: 5.443