Effect of gefarnate on the ocular surface in squirrel monkeys.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the ability of gefarnate (geranyl farnesylacetate) to stimulate goblet cell function in the primate eye after a mild alkali injury of the tarsal conjunctiva.


METHODS
A bilateral injury was created on the conjunctival surface of the lower eye lid of squirrel monkeys by means of a 30-second application of a 4-mm diameter piece of filter paper wetted with 0.5% NaOH. Gefarnate drops (1%) were administered to one eye of each monkey and vehicle alone in the contralateral eye six times a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy, impression cytology staining of the ocular surface, fluorescein and rose bengal staining, and Western blot for mucin were performed before injury and weekly thereafter. Light microscopy was used to evaluate the lower conjunctiva.


RESULTS
Topical application of gefarnate was not associated with any adverse ocular surface effects. Goblet cell repopulation after injury was significantly greater in the gefarnate-treated eyes compared with the vehicle-treated eyes. In the gefarnate-treated eyes, tear mucin content was significantly greater at 1 week after injury. Fluorescein staining was significantly reduced at 3 weeks after injury, and rose bengal staining was significantly reduced in the area of the wound at 2 weeks in the gefarnate-treated eyes compared with the vehicle-treated eyes; at other times, conjunctival staining in the two groups of eyes was not significantly different.


CONCLUSIONS
Gefarnate promotes goblet cell repopulation and increases mucin production after a conjunctival injury. No adverse affects of the treatment were found. Thus, this agent may be useful in conditions that diminish goblet cell function.
Toshida
Hiroshi
H
Laboratory for the Molecular Biology of the Ocular Surface, Department of Ophthalmology, LSU Eye Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
Nakata
Katsuhiko
K
Hamano
Takashi
T
Nakamura
Masatsugu
M
Nguyen
Doan
D
Beuerman
Roger W
RW
D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015590:Fluorophotometry; D005778:Gefarnate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012395:Rose Bengal; D012453:Saimiri; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D009077:Mucins; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D005778:Gefarnate; D012395:Rose Bengal; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide