title: The effect of long-term topical administration of commercial beta-blockers on the rat corneal endothelium.
abstract: To determine the effect of long-term topical application of commercial beta-blockers on the corneal endothelium, normal rats were randomly assigned to receive a drop of 0.5% timolol, 1% befunolol, or 2% carteolol four times daily for 8 months. Specular microscopy showed marked pleomorphism in the endothelium after three months of treatment with 1% befunolol. In contrast, the eyes treated with either 0.5% timolol or 2% carteolol demonstrated no significant change in endothelial morphology. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy at eight months after treatment revealed marked degeneration of the endothelium of the eyes treated with 1% befunolol. Similar endothelial changes were also noted in the 0.5% timolol-treated group, but to a significantly lesser extent. The eyes treated with 2% carteolol, however, showed only mild alteration of the endothelial ultrastructure. These results indicate that the corneal endothelium can be affected by long-term topical administration of commercial beta-blockers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Awata
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuda
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D002354:Carteolol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors; D013999:Timolol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011412:Propanolamines; C006034:befunolol; D013999:Timolol; D002354:Carteolol