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Evaluation of retinochoroidal circulation with fluorescein angiography after whole eye transplantation
Chiaki Komatsu, MD1, Jila Noori, MD2, Maxine R. Miller, MD1, Yong Wang, MD1, Touka Banaee, MD1, Bing Li, MD1, Joshua Barnett, BS1, Wendy Chen, MD, MS1, Kira L. Lathrop, MAMS3,4, Ian A. Rosner, BS1, Wensheng Zhang, MD1, Mario G. Solari, MD1, Andrew W. Eller, MD2, Kia M. Washington, MD 1,3,5,6,7
1 University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Department of Plastic Surgery, Pittsburgh, PA
2 University of Miami, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL
3 University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Pittsburgh, PA
4 University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Pittsburgh, PA
5University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Departments of Plastic Surgery, Ophthalmology, Orthopedic Surgery, Pittsburgh, PA
6 VA Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
7 McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Department of Plastic Surgery, Pittsburgh, PA
2018-02-01
Presenter: Chiaki Komatsu
Affidavit:
Chiaki Komatsu
Director Name: Vu T. Nguyen
Author Category: Fellow Plastic Surgery
Presentation Category: Basic Science Research
Abstract Category: Craniomaxillofacial
PURPOSE
Whole eye transplantation (WET) could provide viable optical system and retina to people with vision loss. We developed an orthotopic WET rodent model. Perfusion of the retina is crucial for functional visual return, thus we evaluated the structural integrity of the retinochoroidal circulation after transplantation using fluorescein angiography (FA).
METHODS
Brown Norway rats underwent syngeneic WET (n=4). Animals were examined at post-operative week 1. Wide-field FA images and fundus photographs were obtained to evaluate retinochoroidal blood flow. Ocular examinations were performed to evaluate the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. Naïve Brown Norway rats (n=3) served as controls.
RESULTS
FA revealed that retinochoroidal circulation was restored in all transplanted eyes exhibiting normal choroidal background, arterial and venous filling, and no leakage from the vascular tree. These results were comparable to normal naïve eyes. In two of the transplants, retinal arteries were narrowed in fundus examination, fundus images and fluorescein angiography, while in the other two transplants retinal vasculature seemed similar to the control eyes.
CONCLUSION
FA results have confirmed that retinochoroidal circulation can be established after WET in a rat model. Two of four transplanted eyes displayed no difference in retinochoroidal circulation as compared to the naïve eyes. In all rats, the pattern of vascular filling was normal, and the absence of vessel leakage indicates that the structural integrity of blood-retinal barriers can be maintained after WET.
