Interference effect of exogenous bFGF on apoptosis of retinal cells in experimental retinal detachment

Objective To investigate the interference effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on apoptosis of retinal cells in experimental retinal detachment (RD).At the same time to observe the changes of apoptosis of retinal cells, and explore the pathoganesis of RD.Methods Forty cyanotic blue rabbits were selected randomly from 42 rabbits, and the left and right eyes were in the experimental control group and bFGF group, respectively.After the RD model was set up by subretinal injection with 20μ 1 of sodium byahironate; bFGF (10IU / 20μ 1) was injected into the vitreous body of the right eyes as the bFGF group; 20μ 1 BSS (balanced salt solution) was injected into vitreous body of left eyes as experimental control group.Another 2 rabbits were selected as the normal control group, which underwent none of the injections.At the end of the observation period eyeballs of the two rabbits were extracted.Routine pathological examination, TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) and Transmission electron microscopy were used to detect the apoptosis of the retinal cells.Cell counts and statistical analysis were used to assess the results.Results Typical apoptosis cells were observed in the early time of RD.Apoptosis cells was found in each retinal layers, especially in inner nuclear layers and Ganglion cell layer.The number of apoptosis cells changed as the time of RD was prolonged (P<0.01).It was also found that apoptosis cells in bFGF group were less than that in the experimental control group (P<0.01).Typical apoptotic cells in bFGF group were less than experimental control group.Canclusions In the experiment of RD, abnormal apoptosis was observed in the retinal cells.Apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms of visual function injury after RD. Intravitreous injection of exogenous bFGF may inhibit the apoptosis of retinal cells in experimental RD. Key words: Retinal detachment;  Basic fibroblast growth factor;  Apoptosis