Inhibition of experimental angiogenesis of cornea by somatostatin.
BACKGROUND
This study evaluated the inhibitory activity of somatostatin 14 on the angiogenesis of cornea in vivo.


METHODS
Corneal neovascularization was induced with a pellet containing 90 ng of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in a rat corneal pocket model. Three kinds of pellets were made containing bFGF plus somatostatin (SST) 0 ng, 20 ng and 200 ng for the control group, group 1 and group 2, respectively. Neovascularization was observed biomicroscopically from day 4 to day 8, and the corneas were then examined for changes in histology. Quantitation of angiogenesis in the cornea was accomplished by caliper and image analysis.


RESULTS
The 200-ng dose of SST showed significant inhibition of both length and area of neovascularization on day 7 (0.62+/-0.11 mm vs 1.29+/-0.16 mm, 0.50+/-0.16 mm2 vs 1.35+/-0.29mm2, group 2 vs control; P<0.05). The 20 ng of somatostatin did not demonstrate any significant inhibition of neovascularization compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrated that SST 14 can reduce bFGF-induced corneal angiogenesis. This shows the potential value of somatostatin in the treatment of corneal neovascularization.
Wu
Pei-Chang
PC
Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
Liu
Chi-Chang
CC
Chen
Chih-hsin
CH
Kou
Hsi-Kung
HK
Shen
Su-Chin
SC
Lu
Cheng-Yuan
CY
Chou
Wen-Ying
WY
Sung
Ming-Tse
MT
Yang
Lin-Cheng
LC
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D013004:Somatostatin