Influence of Destruction of Retina-Rpe Complex on the Proliferation of Scleral Chondrocytes in Chicks

We studied the role of the retina-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) complex in the proliferation of scleral chondrocytes in chicks. Seventy- two chicks were allocated to one of four groups: intravitreal gentamicin ( 400 mu g) injection ( destruction of retina-RPE complex); intravitreal gentamicin injection with goggling; goggling only (form-deprivation myopia ); and intravitreal saline injection (control). The chicks were killed and retina-RPE complexes were harvested under a microscope. Retina-RPE complexes were then co- cultured with primary culture of first day scleral chondrocytes in Transwell-COL co-culture systems (Costar), with two different pore sizes (0.4 and 3.0 mu m) and serum- deprivation medium. An MTT assay was performed at A(550) after 4 days. In the 0.4 mu m pore size system, the absorbency at A(550) showed no differences between groups. However, in the 3.0 mu m pore size system, the absorbency at A(550s) (p<0. 05), indicating that destruction of the retina -RPE complex inhibited chondrocyte proliferation. The absorbency in the goggle group was higher than in the control group (p