Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To evaluate the effect of topically administered agents such as doxycycline, triamcinolone, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), ascomycin, and flurbiprofen on experimental corneal neovascularization in rats. Methods: Chemical cauterization of cornea in 40 eyes of 40 rats was performed by using silver nitrate/potassium nitrate sticks. The animals were anesthetized and were treated in accordance with the ARVO statement for the use of animals in ophthalmic and visual research. Topical instillation of doxycycline, triamcinolone, LMWH, ascomycin, flurbiprofen, and normal saline was continued for 7 days. Percent area of cornea covered by neovascularization and also covered by scar in each group was calculated separately by use of computer software on digital photographs. Means of different groups were compared to find any significant (p< 0.05) difference between groups. Results: The means of percent area of corneal neovascularization were: in doxycycline, 35.5%; in triamcinolone, 13.2%; in LMWH, 66.6%; in ascomycin, 55.9%; in flurbiprofen 50.5%; and in the control group, 74.9%. The means of percent area of neovascularization in triamcinolone and doxycycline groups were different from the control group (p< 0.05). There was no significant difference in the percent area of neovascularization between the LMWH, ascomycin, and flurbiprofen groups when compared to the control. There was no significant difference in percent area of corneal scar between the different groups. Conclusions: Topical instillation of triamcinolone and doxycycline seems to prevent corneal neovascularization induced by chemical cauterization of cornea in rats. Although the effect of LMWH, ascomycin, and flurbiprofen is not significant, there seems to be a trend. Because the mechanisms of action of these agents are not identical, performing other studies using combinations of these drugs seems to be reasonable.
Keywords: neovascularization • drug toxicity/drug effects