gms | German Medical Science

To study the effect of Chitosan to intraocular structure such as retina, ciliary body, lens,cornea etc and intraocular pressure; and to messure the levels of inflammatory factors in aqueous humor and vitreous humor following vitrectomy using Chitosan as a vitreoretinal tamponde.

Twelve healthy pigmented rabbits were vitrectomized. Then the vitreous cavities were filled by injecting Chitosan into the right eyes (as experiment group) and Hyalumnan into the left eyes (as control group). Slit-lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy were performed and intraocular pressure were messured pre- and postoperatively in all eyes. Histological and ultrapathological examination was done after the rabbits were sacrificed at the end of the study. The inflammatory factors (interleukin 6, interleukin 8, NO) levels in aqueous humor and vitreous humor were respectively detected on the 15^th and 30^th day afterwards.

All the animal clinic examination and histological and ultrapathological examination of ocular tissues indicated that there were no significant differences between experiment group and control group. The IL-6 levels in aqueous humor of experimental group and control group on the 15^th day postoperatively were higher than normal, as for the IL-8 and NO levels there were no differences when compared to normal. The IL-8 and NO levels in vitreous humor of experimental group and control group on the 30^th day postoperatively were higher than normal, as for the IL-6 levels there were no differences when compared to normal. The IL-6 and IL-8 levels in aqueous humor and vitreous humor had no significant differences between experiment group and control group at all times.

There is no obvious effect to intraocular structure and intraocular pressure fluctuation when the vitreous cavity is filled with Chitosan. Although there is some fluctuation of inflammatory factors but no serious inflammation appears.