2,4-Dinitrophenol pharmacologically promotes retinal detachment in rabbits

PURPOSE: The most difficult and unpredictable step of macular translocation surgery is creating the retinal detachment. The authors evaluated the efficacy of 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) to promote retinal detachment in the rabbit. METHODS: A vitrectomy was performed in each eye of a Dutch-belted rabbit. One eye was injected with 0.1 cc of a 5 mmol/L 2,4-DNP, the other eye with 0.1 cc of BSS+. After 30 minutes, the minimum aspiration pressure required to visibly elevate the retina was recorded. Four nonvitrectomized eyes received an intravitreal injection of either 0.1 cc of BSS+ or 5 mmol/L 2,4-DNP, and were enucleated and fixated for histopathologic examination. RESULTS: In the 12 masked eyes, the mean aspiration pressure decreased from 217 +/- 20 mmHg in the six BSS+ eyes to 117 +/- 20 mmHg in the six 2,4-DNP treated eyes (P = 0.0022). A retinal detachment was present in three of six masked and two of two unmasked 2,4-DNP treated eyes and none of eight BSS+ treated eyes. There was no short-term toxicity to the retina at the light microscope level. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection of 2,4-DNP reduced the retinal adhesive force by over 50% when compared to the BSS+ treated control eyes, without any short-term retinal toxicity.