Immunohistochemical analysis of the internal limiting membrane peeled with infracyanine green

PURPOSE: To investigate whether the peeled internal limiting membrane (ILM) contains cellular retinal cell fragments, and to learn more about their possible origin. DESIGN: Experimental study. METHODS: ILM peeled from ten eyes during vitrectomy by infracyanine green (ICG) was studied immunohistochemically using the markers: GFAP, S-100, and vimentin. Five ILM specimens were from eyes with diabetic macular edema (I)ME), two from eyes with a macular hole, and three from eyes with persisting macular edema after retinal detachment: surgery. RESULTS: In eight of the ten ILM specimens, we found GFAP-positive staining, indicating the presence of remnants of footplates from Muller cells or glial cells. Two ILM specimens were positive for S-100, indicating the presence of neural cells or ganglion cells. CONCLUSIONS: ILM peeled from the retina during vitrectomy using ICG may contain remnants of Muller cell footplates, neural cells, and ganglion cells.