Basic fibroblast growth factor inhibits choriocapillaris atrophy in rabbit

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on induced choriocapillaris atrophy in vivo. METHODS: Choriocapillaris atrophy was surgically induced in rabbits by a hy draulic retinal detachment followed by debridement. of the retinal pigment epithelium under the detached retina. Three concentrations of basic fibrobl ast growth factor (0.1 mug/0.1 ml, 1 mug/0.1 ml, or 5 mug/0.1 ml) were inje cted into the subretinal space and into the vitreous cavity 1, 3, and 5 day s after the surgery. For control, only Tris buffer was injected in the same manner. The rabbits were euthanized 7 days after the surgery. Choroidal va scular casts were made and examined by scanning electron microscopy. The ch oriocapillaris atrophy was quantified by computer assisted image analysis o f photographs of the choriocapillaries. The area of the choriocapillaris an d number of intercapillary spaces in the choriocapillaris that corresponded to the density of the capillary network were measured. RESULTS: The average area of the choriocapillaris in the eyes treated with 1 mug/0.1 ml,of basic fibroblast growth factor was significantly larger at 75.1 +/- 3.0% than that in the control eyes at 67.2 +/- 5.6% (P = .021). Th e average area of the choriocapillaris in the 0.1 mug/0.1 ml of basic fibro blast growth factor group was not statistically different from the control. The number of intercapillary spaces of the choriocapillaris was 132 +/- 12 in the 0.1 mug/0.1 ml of basic fibroblast growth factor group, 124 +/- 46 in the 1 mug/0.1 ml of basic fibroblast growth factor group, and 75 +/- 14 in the control group. The higher number of spaces in:the treated group was statistically significant. (P = .026). CONCLUSIONS: Basic fibroblast growth factor decreased the atrophy of the ch oriocapillaris after removal of the retinal pigment epithelium in rabbit ey es. These results suggest that basic fibroblast growth factor may play a ro le in the survival of the choriocapillaris in vivo. (Am J Ophthalmol 2001;1 32:94-100. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved).