Objective: This experimental study was performed to investigate the protective effect of Recombinant IL-11 (rhIL-11) on retina tissue in the ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in a guinea pig model.

Materials and Methods: In this study, fifteen guinea pigs were randomly divided to three groups that each one has five guinea pigs: placebo, sham and the treatment (rhIL-11) groups. The guinea pigs in the placebo group were only given 0,1 cc saline solution intraperitoneally. Pressure induced 90 minutes of retinal ischemia and 48 hours of reperfusion were established in the sham and treatment groups. Saline for the sham group and 5μg/kg of rhIL-11 for the treatment group were administered intraperitoneally daily. At the end of the reperfusion period eyes of the animals of all groups were sacrificed and were enucleated. Retinal tissues were evaluated histopathologically.

Results: The thickness of inner plexiform layer of retina in the treatment group was not shown significantly difference than placebo and sham (p=1.000, p= 0.095 respectively). However, in the sham group it was measured as significantly thicker than that of placebo group (p=0.032). The infiltration of the polymorphonuclear cells in the internal limiting membrane and inner plexiform layer of the sham group was significantly higher than those of the placebo (p=0.012) and treatment group (p=0.032). However, it was observed that there is no significant difference between treatment and placebo groups (p=0.189).

Conclusion: rhIL-11 that shows a protective effect in retinal I/R injury kept retinal tissue in our study, this may make it a potential alternative agent for the prevention of retinal I/R injury.