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  • The effect of β receptor blockade through propranolol on corneal neovascularization.

The effect of β receptor blockade through propranolol on corneal neovascularization.

Journal of ocular pharmacology and therapeutics : the official journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2014-07-02)
Hüseyin Simavli, Mesut Erdurmus, Elçin Hakan Terzi, Yasin Yücel Bucak, Halil İbrahim Önder, Ahmet Şahap Kükner
ABSTRACT

To evaluate the inhibitory effects of propranolol, a nonselective and lipophilic β-adrenergic receptor blocker, on alkali-induced corneal neovascularization (NV). Corneal NV was induced in 24 eyes of 24 Wistar rats using NaOH. Following alkali burn, animals were randomized into 4 groups according to topical treatment. Group I received 0.9% NaCl, Group II received preservative-free dexamethasone sodium phosphate 1 mg/mL, Group III received propranolol hydrochloride 1 mg/mL, and Group IV received 0.5 mg/mL propranolol hydrochloride drops twice a day for 7 days. The inhibitory effects of the drugs were compared as the percent areas of cornea covered by NV. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and anti-active caspase-3 immunostainings were also performed in corneal sections. The median percent area of corneal NV was 59% (40.3-65.6) in Group I, 25.5% (20.9-43.4) in Group II, 68.9% (36.7-78.0) in Group III, and 50.4% (42.2-63.3) in Group IV. Group III and IV did not show any difference in comparison to Group I. Group II showed a statistically significant smaller area of corneal NV compared with Group I, III, and IV (P=0.004 for each comparison). Anti-VEGF immunostaining was significantly less in Group II compared with the other groups. Anti-active caspase-3 immunostaining was not different among the treatment groups. Topical propranolol 1 or 0.5 mg/mL does not have a significant inhibitory effect on alkali-induced corneal NV in rats.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Xylazine hydrochloride, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard
Sigma-Aldrich
Dexamethasone 21-phosphate disodium salt, ≥98%
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate for peak identification, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard