Affiliations: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences,
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Dimitri T. Azar, MD, Chairman, Department
of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1855
W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Tel.: +1 312 996 6590; Fax: +1 312
996 7770; E-mail: dazar@uic.edu
Abstract: Purpose: To determine the feasibility of restoring electroretinogram
(ERG) activity of exenterated swine eyes following in vivo arterial
anastomosis. Methods: The carotid artery was exposed and cannulated. The eye was
exenterated along with the extraocular muscles and surrounding connective
tissue. Prior to eye transplantation, the ophthalmic artery was identified and
anastomosed to the carotid artery. Perfusion was confirmed by injecting
FITC-conjugated tomato lectin into the anastomotic tubing and performing
confocal microscopy of retinal flat-mounts. Dark-adapted ERG and optic nerve
responses were analyzed to assess retinal function, and dilated eye examination
and retinal imaging were performed. Results: Arterial anastomosis resulted in perfusion of blood from
the carotid artery through the anastomosis and into the ophthalmic artery.
Arterial perfusion was confirmed by the presence of tomato lectin-stained
retinal vessels. Immediately following the anastomosis, ERG and optic nerve
activities were minimal. However, an "a" wave (representing photoreceptor
activity), "b" wave (representing bipolar cell activity), and optic nerve
responses (representing RGC activity) were detected 30 min after reperfusion.
Conclusions: Electroretinographic function is partially recovered
following re-anastomosis of exenterated swine eyes. This model would be useful
for further studies on eye transplantation.
