EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT PERFLUOROCHEMICALS ON DORSAL-ROOT GANGLION-CELLSIN-VITRO

Background: Investigation of the effects of different perfluorochemica ls (PFC) on cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells. Method: DRG cel l cultures from 9- to 11-day-old chicken embryos were exposed to emuls ified perfluorodecalin (PFD; C10F18; 0.5%, 1% and 10%) or perfluorooct ylbromide (PFO; C8F17Br; 0.5%, 1% and 10%). The cells were evaluated u nder phase-contrast optics after 30 h and 120 h for 0.5 and 1% and aft er 5 h for 10%. To study the integrity of neuronal cells, immunohistoc hemical labelling for neurofilaments (NF) and tubulin (TUB) was perfor med. Results: Concentrations of 0.5% and 1% of PFD or PFO did not chan ge immunohistochemical labelling of DRG cells. Go-cultured macrophages showed a foam cell response, presumably representing ingested PFC. At both concentrations PFD induced a weaker foam cell response than PFO. A concentration of 10% led to the death of DRG cells and macrophages within 5 h. Conclusion: PFC caused a dose-dependent damage of neuronal cells. Go-cultured macrophages developed a foam cell response similar to that observed in vivo after prolonged presence of PFC in the vitre ous body. These observations indicate that PFD and PFO may not be suit able for long-term vitreous replacement in vitreoretinal surgery. Howe ver, the model is limited by several factors: (1) there are physiologi cal differences between DRG cells and retinal ganglion cells; (2) in v ivo retinal ganglion cells are protected by the overlying tissues; (3) the PFC used in tissue culture must be emulsified.