Decorin modulates wound healing in experimental glaucoma filtration surgery: A pilot study

PURPOSE. To analyze the effect of perioperative decorin in an experimental setting of glaucoma filtration surgery. METHODS. Glaucoma filtration surgery, similar to that performed in clinical practice, was performed on 35 chinchilla rabbits (ChBB:CH). The animals received a unilateral subconjunctival injection of decorin (40-100 mug) or the vehicle alone before surgery and at different time intervals thereafter. Anti-fibrotic efficacy was established by clinical response and histologic examination. The animals were killed on day 14, and the eyes processed for histology. RESULTS. Both the vehicle and the decorin solution were well tolerated. No adverse effects such as inflammation or blurring of the optical media were observed. Conjunctival scarification occurred within 1 week in the control groups but was suppressed in the experimental groups. The intraocular pressure correlated with the fibrotic process and reached normal levels within 7 days after surgery in control animals, but remained significantly (P < 0.001) reduced in the experimental groups. Histologic examination of the surgical area 14 days after surgery disclosed massive fibrosis in the control animals, but little deposition of extracellular matrix in the experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS. The data of this pilot study suggest that perioperative subconjunctival decorin applications significantly affect conjunctival scarring and surgical outcome of glaucoma filtration treatments in rabbits.