[Experimental study on the effects of a replacement of the vitreous body with perfluorotributylamine on the rabbit eye].

The effects of replacement of the vitreous body with perfluorotributylamine on albino rabbit eyes were studied. Twenty eight eyes were divided into three groups. In the first group (n = 14), which was used as a control, only vitrectomy was performed. In the second group (n = 6), the vitreous was temporarily substituted with perfluorotributylamine after the vitrectomy. One hour after the operation, the injected perfluorotributylamine was again replaced with a balanced salt solution (SM-A2). In the third group (n = 8), the injected perfluorotributylamine was left in the eye until the time of enucleation. The eyes were evaluated both electrophysiologically and histopathologically, at predetermined time intervals ranging from one to form one to four weeks after operation. All the eyes in the second group did not show any histopathological changes until four weeks after the operation. The ERGs obtained from these eyes exhibited dominant a- and b-waves similar to those of the control group at all intervals after operation. However, the eyes in the third group showed progressive deterioration with elapsed of time. At the two weeks after operation, b-wave amplitudes moderately decreased in two eyes. These eyes showed an initial slight degeneration in the outer segment layer. At four weeks after the operation, the a- and b-waves further decreased in amplitude with a significantly prolonged peak latency. The outer segments were severely damaged, and the histopathological changes extended to the inner segment layer as well as the RPE layer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)