Effects of beta-aminopropionitrile after posterior penetrating injury in the rabbit

Beta-aminopropionitrile, an inhibitor of collagen cross-linking, effectively limited the degree of posttraumatic vitreous proliferation in rabbits three weeks after double perforating injury. Light microscopic examination of the sites of perforating injury after five weeks showed minimal intravitreal fibrous proliferation in treated animals. Electron micrographs of the cicatricial vitreous collagen showed fragmentation of collagen into smaller fibrils and disintegration into amorphous areas. Inhibition of collagen cross-linking may undermine the strength of the vitreous scaffold by making vitreous and cicatricial collagen more sensitive to tissue collagenases produced during inflammation. The failure of fibrovascular membranes to grow into the vitreous may be a secondary effect of weakened vitreous support.