Survival of Cultured Autologous Fibroblast Injected into Subconjunctival Space Treated with Mitomycin C in Rabbit

ABSTRACT

Although adjunctive use of Mitomycin C(MMC)increased the success rate of trabeculectomy, intractable bleb leakage-related complications increased. As a consequence, demand for MMC related bleb leakage repair is increasing. We attempted to observe whether the cultured autologous fibroblast injected into the subconjunctival space of rabbit may be used as a new treatment modality in the MMC related bleb leakage. Similar situation to extensive bleb leakage after trabeculectomy with MMC was prepared by repeated injections of 0.1cc of 0.05% MMC into subconjunctival space in 30 eyes of 15 New Zealand white rabbits weekly for 3 times and devided them into control, autologous blood injection and autologous fibroblast injection groups. Then, we observed the change of conjunctiva and enucleated it for histopathologic study at 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and 8 weeks, respectively. In control group, the conjunctiva was thin and transparent. Subconjunctival fibroblasts were hardly visible and collagen fibers were arranged coarsely. In contrast, cultured autologous fibroblast injection group showed thickened and less transparent conjunctiva along with packed fibroblasts and collagen fibers. In autologous blood injection group, the transparency of conjunctiva and the density of fibroblast and collagen fiber arrangement were between those of the other two groups. The cultured autologous fibroblast injection may be a feasible and an effective treatment modality in intractable bleb leakage after trabeculectomy with MMC.