Comparing the Effects of Two Different Irrigation Solutions on an Isolated Perfused Vertebrate Retina

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the effect of a taurine-containing intraocular irrigation solution (PuriProtect™) to a standard irrigation solution (BSS™) we evaluated the retinal function using an electroretinogram (ERG) and analyzed the survival of retinal ganglion cells on isolated whole mount retinas. Materials and Methods: During ERG recordings, each irrigation solution was superfused for 45 min with the relevant irrigation solution. To investigate the effects on photoreceptor function, 1 mM asparate was added to obtain a-waves. The recovery of the a- and b-wave was monitored after superfusing the retinas with standard medium again. To evaluate the percentage of dead ganglion cells, retinas were stored for 24 h at 4°C in darkness and after staining the retinas with ethidium homodimer-1 the retinas were analyzed using fluorescence microscopy. Results: The application of standard medium supplemented with 2 mM taurine resulted in a significant increase of the b-wave amplitude compared to standard medium alone. The a-wave amplitudes showed no significant changes under taurine supplementation. Compared to standard medium BSS showed no significant decrease in b-wave amplitudes, but a significant decrease in a-wave amplitudes. In contrast to BSS there were no significant changes in the a- or b-wave amplitudes detectable after the application of PuriProtect. At the end of the washout period no significant changes in a- or b-wave amplitudes were recorded for any tested irrigation solution. Retinas stored for 24 h in PuriProtect or in standard medium with taurine had a statistically significant smaller amount of dead cells than retinas stored in standard medium without taurine supplementation. Conclusions: BSS does not seem to be an ideal irrigation solution, because it compromises the a-wave in the ERG. In contrast to BSS, PuriProtect showed no significant impact on the ERG and showed a better long-term effect on ganglion cell survival. Taurine supplementation, therefore, seems to be neuroprotective and its supplementation to an intraocular irrigation solution favorable for the retina.

Glutamate and Hypoxia as a Stress Model for the Isolated Perfused Vertebrate Retina

“…Myocilin can be found in trabecular meshwork cells, as well as in the retina. At last we showed a good correlation between bovine and human isolated ERGs and ERG effects 12 …”

“…In most cases of retinal detachment and in some cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy surgery on the retina (pars plana vitrectomy) are necessary. During pars plana vitrectomy mechanical manipulation, bright light of the optic fiber or shear stress exerted by high flow rates of irrigation solutions during long operations exert an additional stress on the retina 11,12 .…”

Synthesis, staining properties, and biocompatibility of a new cyanine dye for ILM peeling

“…Several other dyes and dye preparations have been the subject of experimental in vivo and ex vivo experiments including, among others, methyl violet, crystal violet, eosin Y, Sudan black B, methylene blue, toluidine blue, light green, indigo carmine, fast green, Congo red, Evans blue, brilliant blue, and bromophenol blue [5,6,13,14,[34][35][36][37][38][39]. However, in contrast to the present study, these trials focused on the absorption qualities of the investigated dyes.…”