title: Testing a possible cocataractogenic potential of befunolol (Glauconex) with animal cataract models.
abstract: Befunolol was tested in an animal experiment with 2 cataract models of the Sprague-Dawley-rat. The treatment scheme was designed with 8 different treatment groups, such that befunolol could be tested single and in combination with one or two cataract models. Over the 6 weeks experimental period, slit lamp microscopy and Scheimpflug photography were employed as observation and documentation methods, extensive post-mortem biochemistry was carried out after sacrifice of the animals. Neither the in-vivo observation and documentation nor the biochemistry showed pronounced effects pointing to a cocataractogenic potential of the drug. Slit density enhancing effects were found in combining UV-B irradiation and befunolol treatment. This effect has also been found in other experiments with timolol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wegener
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Maierhofer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heints
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hockwin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000201:enzymology; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D011412:Propanolamines; C006034:befunolol