Acne Scars

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 Jun 24; Feher J, Kovacs I, Pacella E, Keresz S, Spagnardi N, Balacco-Gabrieli CPurpose: To reveal the influence of retrobulbar capsaicin treatment on rats' eyes and to test protective effects of PEDF, a known neurotrophic and antiangiogenic substance on neurotrophic keratouveitis. Methods: A single retrobulbar injection of capsaicin (50 mg/kg ) was performed in young rats and the effect of 3.2 or 6.4 microg PEDF with retrobulbar administration was recorded. Tear fluid alterations were evaluated with Schirmer test, corneal alterations with slit lamp biomicroscopy. Histopathologic alterations were studied with light and electron microscopy. Number of leukocytes (myeloid cells) in the anterior and posterior chambers, peripheral retina and vitreous were quantitatively evaluated. Results: Reduced tear secretion was found in capsaicin treated rats as compared to control, but this effect was significantly attenuated by PEDF. Corneal ulceration developed and was followed by scar formation and neovascularisation in the capsaicin treated rats and it was also significantly attenuated with PEDF treatment. Leukocyte infiltration of the anterior and posterior chambers, as well as those of the peripheral retina and vitreous was also observed in capsaicin treated eyes, and was significantly reduced by PEDF treatment. Protective effects of PEDF were dose dependent for each parameters even if the treatment was initiated at the day 14 after capsaicin challenge. Conclusions: PEDF accelerated recovery of tear secretion, as well as prevented capsaicin-induced neurotrophic keratouveitis and peripheral vitreoretinal inflammation. These effects of PEDF described here for the first time, may have a clinical application in inflammatory and neovascular diseases of the eye.