Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: Ticlopidine is a platelet aggregation inhibitor with a broad scope of clinical application. We investigated the effects of ticlopidine on VEGF-induced corneal new blood vessels in rabbits. Methods: Pellets were prepared by incorporating VEGF with or without ticlopidine in Hydron (polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate) polymer. Sterile phosphate buffered saline containing 500 ng of recombinant VEGF(AngioLab, Inc.) was mixed with 24% Hydron in Ethanol. New Zealand White rabbits with no corneal blood vessels were subjected to operation. Rabbits were anesthetized with Ketamine hydrochloride (45 mg/kg) and Xylazine (4 mg/kg). Using sterile surgical technique with crescent knife, 2.5 mm incision was made in 1 mm central from corneoscleral junction. A micropoket was made in 4 mm depth, and a single pellet was deposited in the bottom of the pocket. VEGF-containing control pellet was placed onto the micropocket in one eye and the other eye comprised pellet with 375 ug of ticlopidine in addition to VEGF. The number of vessels, the length of the blood vessels and the dimensions of the vascularized area was measured with slit lamp biomicroscopy on 3rd, 5th, and 7th day after operation. Results: Marked neovascularization was noted as early as three days after the implantaion of the pellets. At day 7, postimplantation of VEGF pellets showed mean NV score of 44.213.2 and mean circumferential NV of 8625 degrees, while Ticlopidine treated group showed mean NV score of 22.814.24 and mean circumferential NV of 5416 degrees. The NV score of ticlopidine-treated group was about 50% of the control group. Conclusion: Our study showed that Ticlopidine, platelet aggregation inhibitor, effectively inhibit corneal neovascularization in a rabbit animal model. Ticlopidine may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of corneal angiogenesis disorders.
Keywords: 483 neovascularization • 370 cornea: basic science • 390 drug toxicity/drug effects