J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2009 Jun;50(6):911-918. 10.3341/jkos.2009.50.6.911.

Comparison of Vitreolytic Effect in Rabbit Eyes: Plasmin, Hyaluronidase, and Their Mixtures

• Kim MS
• Moon SW
• Kim ES
• Yu SY
• Kwak HW

• KMID: 2212370
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2009.50.6.911

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to quantify and compare the vitreolytic effect of plasmin, hyaluronidase, and a combination of the two.
METHODS
Thirty-six rabbits were randomized into 3 groups: (A) twelve rabbits had an intravitreal injection of plasmin 1 U with hyaluronidase 10 U/0.1 mL into the right eye, (B) twelve rabbits had an injection of plasmin alone (1 U/0.1 mL), and (C) twelve rabbits had an injection of hyaluronidase alone (10 U/0.1 mL). The left eye of each rabbit was used as control, which was injected with 0.1 mL phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The eyes were enucleated 1 hour and 24 hours after injection. The volume of fluid-type vitreous and gel-type vitreous was measured with a micropipette using the melting point as the difference. Statistical analysis was performed and light microscopy was used to assess potential damage to the retinal tissue.
RESULTS
The volume of remaining gel-type vitreous was measured as 52.5%, 60.3%, 59.2%, and 76.5% after 1 hour enucleation and as 44.6%, 56.7%, 56.1%, and 74.7%, after 24 hours enucleation in group A, B, C, and control group, respectively. Group A, B, and C showed statistically significant differences against the control group. Group A (plasmin with hyaluronidase) showed less remaining gel-type vitreous volume than a single injection of plasmin or hyaluronidase alone.
CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal injection of plasmin with hyaluronidase showed more vitreolytic effect than a single injection of plasmin or hyaluronidase alone. The enzyme may be useful in liquefying the vitreous, and may be a useful biochemical adjunct to vitrectomy.

Keyword

Hyaluronidase; Intravitreal injection; Pharmacologic vitreolysis; Tissue plasminogen activator

MeSH Terms

Eye
Fibrinolysin
Freezing
Hyaluronoglucosaminidase
Intravitreal Injections
Light
Microscopy
Rabbits
Retinaldehyde
Tissue Plasminogen Activator
Vitrectomy
Fibrinolysin
Hyaluronoglucosaminidase
Retinaldehyde
Tissue Plasminogen Activator

Figure

• 

  Figure 1. Photographs of the experimental process. (A, B and C) Peeling the sclera, choroid, retina tissue of frozen rabbit eyeball. (D, E) Removal of the cornea, aqueous humor, iris and lens of frozen eyeball. (F) Separated frozen vitreous, lens and iris respectively (Blue asterisk: vitreous green asterisk: lens white asterisk: iris). (G, H and I) Melting the vitreous at room temperature (red arrow: gel type vitreous yellow arrow: fluid type vitreous).

• 

  Figure 2. Comparison of the plasmin and hyaluronidase injection group with the control group. At 1 hour after enucleation, volume of gel type vitreous per whole vitreous was 52.5% and 76.5% in group A and the control group, respectively. At 24 hours after enucleation, volume of gel type vitreous per whole vitreous was 44.6% and 74.7%, respectively. Volume of gel type vitreous per whole vitreous showed statistically significant difference between group A and the control group (1 hour: p=0.000; 24 hours: p=0.000).

• 

  Figure 3. Comparison of the plasmin injection group with the control group. At 1 hour after enucleation, volume of gel type vitreous per whole vitreous was 60.3% and 76.5% in group B and the control group, respectively. At 24 hours after enucleation, volume of gel type vitreous per whole vitreous was 56.7% and 74.7%, respectively. volume of gel type vitreous per hole vitreous showed statistically significant difference between group A and the control group (1 hour: p=0.000; 24 hours: p=0.000).

• 

  Figure 4. Comparison of the hyaluronidase injection group with the control group. At 1 hour after enucleation, volume of gel type vitreous per whole vitreous was 69.2% and 76.5% in group C and the control group, respectively. At 24 hours after enucleation, volume of gel type vitreous per whole vitreous was 56.1% and 74.7%, respectively. volume of gel type vitreous per whole vitreous showed statistically significant difference between group A and the control group (1 hour: p=0.000; 24 hours: p=0.000).

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