title: [Pharmacokinetics of topically applied fluconazole in the rabbit eye].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the penetration of 0.5% fluconazole (FCZ) into the corneas and aqueous humors of New Zealand white rabbits following its topical application.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rabbit corneas and aqueous humors were obtained and quantified at different times after topically applying 0.5% FCZ to the rabbit eyes. The drug levels were assayed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with nonlinear least square method by the computer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FCZ can rapidly penetrate into rabbit corneas. Peak corneal levels occurred essentially immediately at 2 min in the corneas (15.20 +/- 1.95) microgram/g and at 15 min after application in the aqueous (2.39 +/- 0.92 mg/L). The permeability of the corneal epithelial barrier (Kep) was 1.06 x 10(-5). The half-life (t(l/2)) of the cornea was 63.96 min, and that of the aqueous humor was 42.14 min.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical fluconazole can be used as a topical antifungal agent to treat keratitis and needs further evaluation for treating fungal endophthalmitis.
authors.affiliation: Henan Institute of Ophthalmology, Zhengzhou 450003, China. zhangjj05@sina.com
authors.forename: Junjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Leike
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Zuji
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007634:Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole