Inhibitory effect of bucillamine on laser-induced choroidal neovascularization in rats.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the inhibitory effects of bucillamine on formation of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in a rat model.


METHODS
Bucillamine administration (approximately 150 mg/kg/day) was started 1 week before photocoagulation and continued to the end of the study. Control groups received drinking water. Two weeks after photocoagulation, choroidal neovascularization development was evaluated using simultaneous fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, and the maximal thickness of the lesions was measured histologically.


RESULTS
The incidence of CNV formation was 99.5 +/- 0.2% [mean +/- standard deviation (SD)] in control rats and 64.3 +/- 15.1% with bucillamine (P < 0.01). Histological study showed that the thickness of the CNV lesions was 23.4 +/- 6.5 microm (mean +/- SD) in the bucillamine-treated rats, which was significantly decreased compared to that in controls (60.8 +/- 9.2 microm) (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that bucillamine may inhibit the development of laser-induced CNV in rats.
Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical College, Japan. hikichi@asahikawa-med.ac.jp
Taiichi
T
Hikichi
Fumihiko
F
Mori
Mai
M
Sasaki
Akira
A
Takamiya
Masao
M
Nakamura
Naomi
N
Shishido
Masumi
M
Takeda
Yoshitaka
Y
Horikawa
Hidehito
H
Matsuoka
Akitoshi
A
Yoshida
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN
D000975:Antioxidants; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D003545:Cysteine; C026535:bucillamine