Inhibition Of After Cataract By All-trans Retinoic Acid In Rabbit Eyes

Objective To explore the inhibitive effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on preventing posterior capsule opacification in rabbit eyes.Methods Extracapsular cataract extraction was undertaken on 12 rabbit eyes which were divided into two groups:control group and ATRA group.The ATRA group were using ATRA in the operation, the control group were using BSS.The aqueous humors were collected at 1 day,3,7, 14,30 and 60 days after operation and investigated the concent ration of IL-1βand TGF-βby enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Three months later, the biomicroscopic photograph of posterior capsule were observed by lighe microscopy examination and the pathological changes of posterior lens capsule were observed by electron microscopy examination.Results The content of IL-1βand the content of TGF-βin ATRA group were significantly lower than those in control group, showing a statistically significant difference (P< 0.001). In the 3 month after the operation,the eye numbers which developed posterior capsule opacification (PCO) were 12 and 4 in control group and ATRA group, respectively with a significant difference between control group and ATRA group (P< 0.05). No or only sporadic lens epithelial cells and fibrin sticking were found on posterior capsule of lens in ATRA group under the light and electron microscope, and severe PCO including lots of poradic lens epithelial cells and fibrin sticking was seen in control group.Conclusion The implantation of ATRA into the anterior chamber during the ECCE operation may prevent the occurrence of PCO to some extent.