Retinal adhesiveness in the monkey.

PURPOSE To determine factors that influence retinal adhesion in the primate and compare these with previous data from the rabbit. METHODS Retinal adhesiveness was studied in monkey eyes immediately after enucleation. The retina was peeled manually from the retinal pigment epithelium, and the amount of pigment that remained adherent to the retina was used as an index of adhesiveness. RESULTS The rate of post mortem failure of retinal adhesiveness in the monkey was less than in the rabbit under similar conditions. However, as in the rabbit, adhesiveness was sensitive to temperature, pH, and the concentrations of calcium and magnesium, and subretinal injections of neuraminidase weakened adhesion beyond the injection sites. CONCLUSIONS Mechanisms of retinal adhesion are similar in primates and rabbits.