Experimental proliferative vitreoretinopathy in rabbits after intravitreous gas injection and creation of retinal hole: ophthalmic findings and localization of fibronectin]

An animal model of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) has been developed by the creation of a retinal hole (4 disc diameter) 4 days after the intravitreous injection of 0.4 ml of 100% of perfluoropropane (C3F8) in pigmented rabbits. Ophthalmic and histological examination showed detached retina with associated preretinal, intravitreous membranes containing pigmented fibroblast-like cells. Fibrovascular membranes were noted within the puckered medullary wings. Fluorescein angiography revealed profuse leakage from detached medullary wings. Using immunofluorescence, fibronectin was localized on preretinal, intravitreous, and fibrovascular membranes. These results suggested that the breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier and fibrovascular proliferation in addition of previously recognized cell types may be the important factors in this reliable model of PVR.