The Effect of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor on Vascularization in Porous Polyethylene Orbital Implant (Medpor(R))

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We investigated the effect of VEGF usage and the method of surgery on the vascularization rate of the porous orbital implant (Medpor(R)). METHODS: Thirty six Newzealand white rabbits were randomized into 2 groups according to the method of surgery (evisceration and intrascleral implantation and evisceration and retroscleral implantation). Each group was subdivided into two groups, a group treated with VEGF, and the other without VEGF treatment. The degree of vascularization was observed in the four groups at 1, 2, 4 weeks by using cryofilm transfer kit (Finetec, Tokyo, Japan). The implant was sliced at the equator with cryomicrotome and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson's trichrome and reticulin. The sample was observed to assay the degree of fibrovascular ingrowth with light microscope. RESULTS: The group in which VEGF was used and the implant was inserted retrosclerally (n=9) showed significantly higher vascularization rate than the other three groups (P0.05). CONCLUSIONS: After using VEGF or inserting the implant retrosclerally, the vascularization of the implant was significantly incresed.