J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1992 Feb;33(2):159-165.

Morphological Changes of Retinal Pigment Epithelium After Experimental Retinal Detachment

• Han YB

Abstract

After the rhegmatogenous retinal detachment was induced experimentally in the rabbit eyes, ultrastructural changes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were studied with electron microscope. After 3 days of retinal detachment, apical portion of the retinal pigment epithelium was mounded and apical processes were shortened, widened and reduced in number. In other areas proliferative changes were observed in the RPE and some of the proliferated cells migrated into the vitreal space. These changes were more progressed with time. Three weeks after retinal detachment, there were areas of fibroblast-like cells proliferation with production of collagen fibers. From the evidence of cell junctions, melanin granules in the Cytoplasm and basement membrane formation, proliferated fibroblast-like cells were thought to be originated from the RPE cells.

Keyword

Retinal detachment; RPE; Fibrocyte-like cells; Collagen fiber

MeSH Terms

Basement Membrane
Collagen
Cytoplasm
Intercellular Junctions
Melanins
Retinal Detachment*
Retinal Pigment Epithelium*
Retinaldehyde*
Collagen
Melanins
Retinaldehyde