ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the toxic effect of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-αantisense oligonucleotide (αASODN) on the retina. Methods Twenty-four healthy adult colored rabbits were selected and randomly divided into four groups in six for each group. Intravitreous injections of 0.1ml different density diluents containing PDGFR-αASODN and liposome were performed in the right eyes in 3 groups. The other group was injected with 0.1 mL balanced salt solution (BSS) as the control group. The left eyes of all animals were not rejected. Slit lamp examination, indirect ophthalmoscopy and electroretinogram (ERG) examination were performed at 1, 7, 14 and 28 days after the injection. On the day 28, the right eyes were harvested, and HE、immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy of retinal tissue were performed . Results The slit lamp, indirect ophthalmoscope examination of all groups were normal in each time. ERG examination yielded no difference in the amplitude of b wave between the treated groups and the normal control group. Pathological changes of the retinal tissue were not observed in the examinations of HE and immunohistochemical at the day 28 after injection. Electron microscope observation of retinal photoreceptor cells in the group D showed the parts of gaps between membranous discs were expanding, parts of were fusing, a few of clearances around cell nucleus were slightly enlarged,and the shapes of the cell nucleus were slightly irregular. Conclusions To inject 0.1 mL PDGFR-αASODN/lip2000 into the vitreous chamber, PDGFR-αASODN can be relatively safe when its concentration is less than 1.5μmol/L.