Effect of retinoic acid on wound healing of laser burns to porcine retinal pigment epithelium

Objective: To determine the effect of retinoic acid on wound healing of laser burns to explants of porcine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Design: With the help of a mirrored attachment to a Coherent argon laser, laser burns (spot size 100 mu, power 500 mW, duration 0.2 seconds) were performed in 12 explants. The explants were then cultured in the presence (six explants) or absence (six explants) of 1 mu M retinoic acid. Two explants in either group were recovered 4, 8 and 12 days after treatment for histologic study and scanning electron microscopy. Outcome measure: Mean burn area remaining after culture. Results: The area of wound remaining unhealed in the presence of retinoic acid was significantly larger than the area of wound remaining unhealed in the absence of retinoic acid at each time point. Conclusions: Retinoic acid inhibited wound healing of laser burns to porcine RPE. This effect may illustrate a role for retinoic acid in the pharmacotherapy of proliferative disorders.