Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: This study was conducted in non–pigmented (NZW) rabbits to measure healing rates and type IV collagen expression in corneas treated with either VigamoxTM (0.5% moxifloxacin ophthalmic solution) or ZymarTM (0.3% gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution) following anterior keratectomy. Methods: Animals, (n = 6 per group) underwent surgery to create an 8–mm central anterior keratectomy in the right eye (OD). Rabbits were subsequently dosed with one drop, TID for 4 days with VigamoxTM, ZymarTM or BSS® sterile irrigating solution. Fluorescein images were collected daily. Computer analysis of the images using ImageJ (National Institutes of Health) was employed in a masked fashion to determine the wound area at each time point. Wound areas were normalized to percentage of baseline and statistically analyzed using a two–factor repeated measures ANOVA. Approximately 96 hours following surgery, eyes were processed and evaluated for type IV collagen using immunohistochemical techniques. In parallel studies, epithelial tissues inside the wound margin were collected after the 48 hour exam for either Western blot or rtPCR analysis of type IV collagen. Results: Analyses of fluorescein images demonstrated that the Vigamox treated animals had a numerical advantage at 96 hours (87 ± 8% healing for Vigamox compared with 77 ± 10% for Zymar, P > 0.05). The wound healing rates in the parallel studies were both similar to those noted in the original study with Vigamox having the numerical advantage over Zymar. Immunohistochemistry, Western blot and rtPCR analyses all revealed no differences in type IV collagen expression between the healing Vigamox, Zymar and BSS treated corneas. Conclusions: Epithelial healing rates were similar in corneas treated with Vigamox or Zymar following anterior keratectomy, however, a non–significant trend in favor of Vigamox was repeatedly observed in individual parallel studies. Type IV collagen expression was similar for Vigamox, Zymar and BSS treated corneas.
Keywords: antibiotics/antifungals/antiparasitics • wound healing • cornea: epithelium