J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1989 Apr;30(2):225-233.

Ultrastructural Studies of the Preretinal and Subretinal Membranes

• Kim TY
• Kwon OW
• Lee SC

Abstract

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy is an abnormality in which the rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is complicated by proliferation of membrane on both surfaces of the detached retina and on the posterior surface of the detached vitreous gel. The contraction of these membranes, causing distortion and further elevation of the retina, is the most important cause of failure in retinal reattachment surgery. The author studied the ultrastructural features of preretinal and subretinal membranes which were removed during vitreous surgery in four patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The results were as follows: 1. In the four preretinal membranes, five morphologically distinguishable cell types-retinal pigment epithelial cells, fibrous astrocytes, macrophages, fibrocytes and myofibroblasts-were observed, and the extracellular matrix was composed of collagen fibrils measuring 15-25nm in diameter. 2. In one subretinal membrane, retinal pigment epithelial cells, fibrous astrocytes and macrophages were observed and the major cell type was the retinal pigment epithelial cell. The diameter of the extracellular collagen fibrils was almost the same as that of the preretinal membranes. 3. In the preretinal and subretinal membranes, some of the fibrocytes and macrophages were believed to be derived from retinal pigment epithelial cells.

MeSH Terms

Astrocytes
Collagen
Epithelial Cells
Extracellular Matrix
Humans
Macrophages
Membranes*
Retina
Retinal Detachment
Retinaldehyde
Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative
Collagen
Retinaldehyde