Pigment adherence as a measure of retinal adhesion: dependence on temperature.

Retinal adhesion deteriorates rapidly after enucleation. We have developed a new in vitro method for measuring retinal adhesiveness in the rabbit that is faster than previous models, and can monitor changes sooner after enucleation. We used the percentage of retina which retained pigment after peeling from the RPE as a quantitative measure of retinal adhesiveness. We found that the failure of adhesion after death is more rapid and severe than previously reported, but can be inhibited by cold temperature. Pigment adherence was also modified by ionic and metabolic factors that have been found to affect other indices of adhesion. These results emphasize the limitations of in vitro data relative to the physiologic forces that maintain retinal adhesion in vivo.