title: Enhanced FGF-2 movement through human sclera after exposure to latanoprost.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether exposure of sclera to latanoprost acid alters transscleral permeation by FGF-2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pieces of human sclera were isolated from donor eyes after death, placed in organ culture, and exposed to 50 to 200 nM latanoprost acid or vehicle for 3 days. Transscleral permeability was then assessed by placing each scleral piece into a Ussing apparatus and measuring the amount of FGF-2 that moves from the orbital side to the uveal side of the scleral piece. Transscleral permeation by 10-kDa tetramethylrhodamine-dextran also was determined, for comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transscleral permeation by FGF-2 through sclera that had been incubated with vehicle was 1.53 +/- 0.86 x 10(-8) cm/sec. Transscleral permeation by 10-kDa tetramethylrhodamine-dextran was 1.04 +/- 0.39 x 10(-6) cm/sec. FGF-2 permeation of sclera exposed to 50, 100, and 200 nM latanoprost acid was increased by an average of 48% +/- 62%, 100% +/- 108%, and 108% +/- 79%, respectively, compared with sclera exposed to vehicle (n = 13; P < 0.05). Scleral permeation by 10-kDa dextran after exposure to 50, 100, or 200 nM latanoprost acid was significantly increased by 42% +/- 36%, 59% +/- 51%, and 65% +/- 49%, respectively (n = 14; P < 0.05). The ratio of dextran to FGF-2 permeation was approximately 90 and did not vary with 50, 100, or 200 nM latanoprost acid (P = 0.93, ANOVA).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure of sclera to latanoprost acid increases transscleral permeation by FGF-2 in human scleral organ cultures. Because this increase parallels the increased scleral permeability caused by dextran, it may reflect a general enhancement of permeability, a possibility that future in vivo studies should explore.
authors.affiliation: Glaucoma Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0946, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aihara
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lindsey
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Weinreb
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003911:Dextrans / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010539:Permeability; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012590:Sclera / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D003911:Dextrans; C067661:Fluoro-Ruby; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D012235:Rhodamines; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D000077338:Latanoprost