Abstract
BackgroundTranslational research to develop pharmaceutical and surgical treatments for pterygium requires a reliable and easy to produce animal model. Extracellular matrix and fibroblast are important components of pterygium. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the subconjunctival injection of fibroblast cells (NIH3T3 cell line) and exogenous extracellular matrix in rabbits in producing a pterygium-like lesion.MethodsSix 3-month-old white New Zealand rabbits were injected with 20,000 NIH3T3 cells and 5 µL of Matrigel in the right conjunctiva, and with only 5 µL of Matrigel in the left conjunctiva. The eyes were photographed under a magnification of 16× using a 12-megapixel digital camera attached to the microscope on day 1, 3 and 7. Conjunctival vascularization was measured by analyzing images to measure red pixel saturation. Area of corneal and conjunctival fibrovascular tissue formation on the site of injection was assessed by analyzing the images on day 3 and 7 using area measurement software. Histopathologic characteristics were determined in the rabbit tissues and compared with a human primary pterygium.ResultsThe two treatments promoted growth of conjunctival fibrovascular tissue at day 7. The red pixel saturation and area of fibrovascular tissue developed was significantly higher in right eyes (p < 0.05). Tissues from both treatments showed neovascularization in lesser extent to that observed in human pterygium. Acanthosis, stromal inflammation, and edema were found in tissues of both treatments. No elastosis was found in either treatment.ConclusionsMatrigel alone or in combination with NIH3T3 cells injected into the rabbits’ conjunctiva can promote tissue growth with characteristics of human pterygium, including neovascularization, acanthosis, stromal inflammation, and edema. The combination of Matrigel with NIH3T3 cells seems to have an additive effect on the size and redness of the pterygium-like tissue developed.
Highlights
Translational research to develop pharmaceutical and surgical treatments for pterygium requires a reli‐ able and easy to produce animal model
In vitro models focused on the pathogenesis of pterygium to explore the intercellular signaling pathways in epithelial cells and fibroblasts show promising results [8, 9], but animal models to support the evidence are needed
The mouse model showed histological characteristics of human pterygium, manipulation of rabbits for ophthalmological procedures is easier given that the ocular structure and size resembles more to that of human
Summary
Translational research to develop pharmaceutical and surgical treatments for pterygium requires a reli‐ able and easy to produce animal model. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the subconjunctival injection of fibroblast cells (NIH3T3 cell line) and exogenous extracellular matrix in rabbits in producing a pterygium-like lesion. In vitro models focused on the pathogenesis of pterygium to explore the intercellular signaling pathways in epithelial cells and fibroblasts show promising results [8, 9], but animal models to support the evidence are needed. Three animal models for pterygium have been described, using injection of human epithelial pterygium cells, exogenous extracellular matrix or UV scattered radiation in rabbit and mice [3, 10, 11]. The results of the rabbit model using UV scattered light are focused on the computational prediction of the size and shape of the tissue growth, with no histological analysis. The mouse model showed histological characteristics of human pterygium, manipulation of rabbits for ophthalmological procedures is easier given that the ocular structure and size resembles more to that of human
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