title: Nitric oxide levels in aqueous humor after lens extraction and poly(methyl methacrylate) and foldable acrylic intraocular lens implantation in rabbit eyes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the nitric oxide (NO) level in the aqueous humor of rabbit eyes after common cataract surgery techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Ophthalmology, Military Medical University, and Department of Immunology and Immunotoxicology of Respiratory System, Clinic of Pneumonology and Allergology, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups, and surgery was performed as follows: Group 1, extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) intraocular lens (IOL) implantation; Group 2, ECCE; Group 3, phacoemulsification and foldable acrylic IOL implantation; Group 4, phacoemulsification. The aqueous humor specimens were collected on days 1, 3, and 5. Nitric oxide measurements were performed indirectly with a spectrophotometer. The NO level in the aqueous humor collected before surgery served as a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the physiological condition, the concentration of NO was 26.52 nm/dL +/- 4.86 (SD). Postoperatively, the highest NO level in each groups was as follows: Group 1, 46.26 +/- 5.23 nm/dL on day 3; Group 2, 72.46 +/- 6.94 nm/dL on day 1; Group 3, 41.04 +/- 7.31 nm/dL on day 1; and Group 4, 32.67 +/- 2.84 nm/dL on day 3. Significantly higher levels of NO (P <.05) were observed in Groups 1 and 2 at each follow-up day; in Group 3, on days 1 and 3; and in Group 4, on day 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Techniques of cataract extraction caused the NO level to increase; however, phacoemulsification with a foldable IOL caused the smallest release of NO. Rapid postoperative NO changes may theoretically contribute to blood-aqueous barrier breakdown secondary to cataract surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Military Medical University of Łódź, Zeromskiego 113, 90-549 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jurowski
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goś
authors.forename: Grazyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piasecka
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000818:Animals; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015590:Fluorophotometry / Q000379:methods; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate