Aim: To investigate the side effects of the commonly used laser treatment along with testing the neuroprotective effect of bFGF on a potential retinal impairment.
Methods: To do this, 30 chinchilla pigmented adult male rabbits were divided into the control and experimental groups. The control and experimental groups underwent both laser application and bFGF treatment. The retinal tissue impairment and its renewal rate were tested under the light and electron microscopical levels.
Results: The focal laser application on rabbit eyes caused morphological alterations both in the application region and in the neighbouring areas. In the damaged areas, the outer nuclear layer of the neural retina was almost disappeared, retina pigment epithelium was interrupted, the retina pigment epithelium migrated intraretinally, and the damaged region along with neighbouring areas seemed to be not separated. bFGF application just after the laser photocoagulation, revealed better results in application areas.
Conclusion: It could be suggested that the bFGF application following laser photocoagulation might have protective, repairing and wound healing effects on the retina.
Keywords: bFGF; electron microscopy; laser photocoagulation; light microscopy; rabbit; retina.