The metabolic dependency of retinal adhesion in rabbit and primate
M. F. Marmor and X. Y. Yao
Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Calif.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the oxygen and glucose dependency of retinal
adhesion in primate and rabbit. METHODS: Experiments were performed on
Dutch rabbits and monkeys. Retinal adhesiveness was measured by peeling the
retina from the retinal pigment epithelium in vitro, under different
conditions of PO2 and glucose supply, and by observing the amount of
adherent pigment. In vivo ischemia was produced by raising the intraocular
pressure. RESULTS: Retinal adhesion failed quickly at low oxygen tensions,
but a well-oxygenated solution preserved strong retinal adhesion in vitro
for 15 to 20 minutes in rabbit tissue and up to 50 minutes in primate
tissue. Ischemic adhesive failure was reversible on raising the PO2.
Glucose levels did not affect adhesiveness. Ischemia in vivo for more than
1 minute caused rabbit retina to lose its adhesiveness. CONCLUSIONS:
Retinal adhesion is continually and reversibly dependent on oxygenation,
and probably on aerobic metabolism. Primate tissue is more resistant to
metabolic adhesive failure than is rabbit tissue, but the metabolic
requirements appear qualitatively similar.
